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Andrea Barnett Budin · 03-06-2008, 05:15 PM

To the darling dancing Diana! I am impressed w/your attitude. And your reading list! I have read Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now, but will now seek out The Awakening. He is brilliant. Have you delved into Wayne Dyer's books? Your Sacred Self is one of my favs, but I actually have read about 10 of his books. And watched him on PBS, taking notes.

My onc says I am in the 1% club. I ask him why he thinks that is (believing it has to do w/thought control, harnessing our natural ability to heal ourselves, the supplements I take faithfully each day, plus daily mediation and guided imagery -- in addition of course, to my wonderful docs and surgeons and nurses). My onc shrugs and says -- you're lucky. He is forever telling me, w/ea hurdle, you're very lucky. The man is in research. You'd think inquiring minds would want to know, investigate, question...!

Please tell me more about linedancing! Sounds so fun. Doing anything w/passion is healing I think. Therapeutic in fact. For me writing serves this purpose. We must each find where our *passion* lies.

I must say that for me there are constant reminders that I have fought the fight. But please don't think it's all behind me. I live with it. Emphasis on LIVE. I have the battle scars, which remind me that I am strong, brave and determined. I have the absence of eyebrows (yuck!) and most of my eyelashes, which remind me that my heart is radiant and my Soul full of wisdom I must listen for. Wherever I turn, I am reminded of what I have sacrificed and no longer have the luxury of but I choose not to let such realities bring me down. I refuse to waste a single hour of any day that has been granted to me. I live full of love, compassion, appreciation, awe and clear focused Intention and great Expectations. I reject the thoughts that come (and they do still come) that scare me to tears or fill me w/anger, blame, resentment, hatred, the inability to forgive and all that can only serve to weaken us and bring us down.
I WISH YOU JOY AND SERENITY, COURAGE AND STRENGTH, MY SISTERS!
Andi

03-06-2008, 05:15 PM	#34
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Dear Diana... To the darling dancing Diana! I am impressed w/your attitude. And your reading list! I have read Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now, but will now seek out The Awakening. He is brilliant. Have you delved into Wayne Dyer's books? Your Sacred Self is one of my favs, but I actually have read about 10 of his books. And watched him on PBS, taking notes. My onc says I am in the 1% club. I ask him why he thinks that is (believing it has to do w/thought control, harnessing our natural ability to heal ourselves, the supplements I take faithfully each day, plus daily mediation and guided imagery -- in addition of course, to my wonderful docs and surgeons and nurses). My onc shrugs and says -- you're lucky. He is forever telling me, w/ea hurdle, you're very lucky. The man is in research. You'd think inquiring minds would want to know, investigate, question...! Please tell me more about linedancing! Sounds so fun. Doing anything w/passion is healing I think. Therapeutic in fact. For me writing serves this purpose. We must each find where our passion lies. I must say that for me there are constant reminders that I have fought the fight. But please don't think it's all behind me. I live with it. Emphasis on LIVE. I have the battle scars, which remind me that I am strong, brave and determined. I have the absence of eyebrows (yuck!) and most of my eyelashes, which remind me that my heart is radiant and my Soul full of wisdom I must listen for. Wherever I turn, I am reminded of what I have sacrificed and no longer have the luxury of but I choose not to let such realities bring me down. I refuse to waste a single hour of any day that has been granted to me. I live full of love, compassion, appreciation, awe and clear focused Intention and great Expectations. I reject the thoughts that come (and they do still come) that scare me to tears or fill me w/anger, blame, resentment, hatred, the inability to forgive and all that can only serve to weaken us and bring us down. I WISH YOU JOY AND SERENITY, COURAGE AND STRENGTH, MY SISTERS! Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...