Tykerb Tigers need an Oprah show

Joy · 05-08-2007, 01:37 PM

I also agree with everything said and said so well. I'd like to think we are the new faces of cancer. There are so many angles to examine with living with what is universally such a dreaded disease and what it takes to do that every day.

chrisy · 05-08-2007, 03:07 PM

Flori, BH and Joy,

"I'd like to think we are the new faces of cancer. There are so many angles to examine with living with what is universally such a dreaded disease and what it takes to do that every day."
Joy you really said it well. It reminds me of a "stupid insensitive comment" a woman at my church made. She told me she was going to treat her (stage1) BC very aggressively because she didn't want to end up like me! I almost started laughing out loud because the first thought that came to my mind was "well, yeah, stage IV cancer isn't for everybody!"

It takes very special people to live with this every day - and although I know none of us would really choose THIS as our way to be "special", I want you to know that you really ARE!
Imagine "less special" people being able to face this crap (oops, more potty jokes!) with such humor, grace, and strength.

You guys are just awesome

hutchibk · 05-08-2007, 05:30 PM

OK, I'll just come out and say it... WE ROCK!

dede10 · 05-13-2007, 01:29 PM

I just want to say as a stage 4'er, that I would love to see more on TV of survival...the new face of cancer. It never ceases to amaze me the 'stars' who are stage 1, who have done everything from smoking pot to chemo to radiation, and they have beat it! now, us stage 4'ers are never even recognized...not in the media, not by the 'stars' or anyone else. (with the exception of our loved ones, and others who are stage 4)

It would be nice to see others have fought & survived! And we really are not alone

StephN · 05-13-2007, 10:52 PM

Well, I have to wholeheartedly agree with most of what has been said in this thread. I am not a Tykerb Tiger, but may be someday if mets kick up again, so am watching all these posts with great interest.

Elizabeth Edwards is not far enough into her Stage IV "life" to really appreciate where most of us are in our survival. She was not the greatest spokesperson on the Ted Koppel show. A "babe in the woods" so to speak. Maybe waiting for her first scan at that time.

It is so difficult to transmit to others who have not lived this cancer life what it takes to manage our "new normals." There is no balance in our lives as we knew it in the past. We learn to live on a teeter tooter, trying not to let the ends touch the ground. Our "cancer sea legs" as it were.

Could we really make Oprah and her viewers understand at all?? Maybe worth a try, but how to get the idea across that our cancer becomes something like a nagging wart that we have to keep dealing with? We have to minimize it, but at the same time keep a healthy respect for the disease. Otherwise we would all be in the Loony Bin.

Andrea Barnett Budin · 05-14-2007, 11:35 AM

COULD YOU ALL COME OVER FOR A DRINK NEXT WEEK? I just love everything each one of you has expressed! You are so my kind of people. I am a stage 4er and understand exactly your points. Mastec., reconst., 2 rounds of chemo and the incredible side effects that brought me to my knees, barely able to speak and I see Cheryl Crowe on Larry King (who had a lumpectomy and radia -- not to be minimized and kudos to her for surviving). She points to this tiny dot that was tattoed to guide the radiol and says she has decided for the time being to keep it though it is UGLY as a reminder of her victory. Mastec and tram flap reconst, 2 out of 18 nodes removed along w/ severing muscle and nerves, 2 ports and numb areas that go from hip to hip up the left side of my torso and under my arm (sentinel nodes didn't exist in '95), a malformed armpit, a natural manmade new breast with no sensation -- what I would give for a dot or two.

Yes 4th stage met canc SURVIVERS could alter the face of cancer for the world. Instead of whispering the word, or calling it the big "c", afraid to even speak of such a horror, perhaps people would begin to see it doesn't have to be a death sentence. You don't have to condemn yourself! WE COULD ALTER THE STATISTICS MY CHANGING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH OF CANCER PATIENTS. I believe stats reflect a mob mentality -- mass hysteria. Once you work on your mindset you're half way, no 90% there.

EVERY THOUGHT IS LIKE A PRAYER. EVERY PRAYER IS A POTENTIAL MIRACLE. WE ARE EACH A POTENTIAL MIRACLE. It's more than getting your game face on, it's about Spiritually connecting with the power we each have to control our thoughts, and thus our emotions. Emotions emanate from what we think. We our thoughts are full of triumph, we will live AS IF. As if what we want ALREADY EXISTS and all we have to do is concentrate every shred of our Energy on calling it to us! We can be the MASTERS OF OUR FATE! We each have that power.

Don't look at a 4th stager as a lost cause. THERE ARE LOTS OF OUT HERE -- ROARING...!!! With love, ANDI

hutchibk · 05-14-2007, 11:51 AM

OK, it's time to start writing a proposal for the Oprah show about Her2support.org and all of the inspirational survivors here... We need to put a face on living STRONG with chronic cancer. Like I said, I can get it to the producers, we just need to put it on paper.