Instructions For Victory

[schoolteacher]

Andi,

Thank you for your words and encouragement. I have been feeling down about waiting a month and a half for my tumors to shrink. It has been hard for me to deal with having BC because prior to this I was rarely sick or went to the doctor.

I try to keep my attitude positive; but two weeks ago when the oncologists told me the AC chemo was not working, I felt like I had hit a brick wall. After the Taxol treatment, I did feel better because I felt something had been done to stop my cancer.

I have to go Thursday and take my Herceptin; and I really wish, the oncologist would let me take another Taxol treatment. I know I need to keep my psyche focused on my mind helping to fight the cancer. I am not going to lie there are times that I feel very vulnerable to what is taking place in my body.

Reading the messages and talking to all the ladies who have faced what I am now facing helps me each and every day.

Amelia

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

To bring anything into your life, imagine that it's already there. Pinkie, I think that's what you did re your back surgery. Where your thinking is -- there is your experience.

IOW, See the impossible dream rather than the limitations -- and create miraculous results. I believe that if we carefully choose what we instill as a belief and what we focus all our attention on (vs concentrating on what we fear the most) we can create the realization of our dreams.... I have read: Lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons. The line speaks to me. Hope it does the same for you all. Amelia, I know it's a roller coaster ride. Hang on! Hang tough. Stay strong. You're in my thoughts... The same goes for: Michelle, Joanne, Paty, Deb. Madge, Lily, Ceesun, Maryls and Sheila! What a great group of ladies! Y'all rock in my book. Sending you all positive, healing energy and much LOVE...

Something I have found that I just have to share. Learning is finding out what you already know. (ALL THE ANSWERS LIE WITHIN YOU.)

Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you... Here's to your remembering and reawakening to the teachings of your Spirit!
Andi

[Faith in Him]

To speak to what Andi and Pink Girl's are saying. I read once about a man who had survived stage four cancer. When the nurse questioned him about still being around after having stage four cancer, he simply replied, " I did not realize I had a stage four cancer." He just assumed that he would survive and he did.

Thank you, Andi for your words of wisdom. I look forward to your posts and frequently re-read them as a pick- me- up when I'm feeling down.

Tonya

[pat]

Hello all... I am new to this and do not know what to do really. I have her2positive breast cancer and will start cemo next wed. I will have 4 months of treatments and then go on herceptin every 3 week for 17 treatments. they say it will not be bad...but I would really like to know how you feel taking herceptin......worried in NC...Pat

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Hi Pat! Welcome to this board. We are all Sisters here, so feel free to speak your mind.

So very sorry you have found yourself in the position of having to deal w/breast cancer. But this is a great place to have been led to. Wish I'd had such a place back when I was dx.

I have found Herceptin to be *the easy chemo*. In actuality it is a *monoclonal antibody* which is like a smart bomb, targeting only the defective HER2 gene. Which is not to say there aren't some side effects. I have learned that every cancer is different (so many variants make each unique). And each person's body responds differently to drugs. My husband, who is 6' tall and much bigger than me, cannot tolerate drugs I have no problem with. So I can only say, we are each individuals. Some have harsher side effects than others. For me, Herceptin (Vitamin H as I lovingly call it) leaves me fatigued. I get regular ECHO cardiograms to make sure my heart is functioning w/o impediments. My EF (ejection fraction) is over 50%. Thin nails that split and peel easily and refuse to grow, dry cuticles. AND, it is saving my life and keeping metastases at bay!! I'M IN LOVE.

I wish you the best of results. Tell us about you please. Where do you live? What would your signature look like (based on others you see hear). This helps us get to KNOW you a bit better, and to address your questions and feelings w/a degree of understanding over the obvious. I think you will find many on this site are glad to embrace you and try to help guide through what can be a scary experience. Knowledge is power, as I'm sure you know. We all try to face bc not just intellectually, but w/every possible aspect of our being. Addressing the whole person, body, mind and Soul, is the best of approaches to me. And I believe most of us feel we have grown to be more than we ever imagined possible from this unwanted reality. Hope you will find the same to be true for you, Pat.

Any more questions -- ask away!
Andi

[PinkGirl]

I like that one Faith - a guy survives stage 4
cancer because he doesn't know he is stage 4.

I keep thinking of examples of this that have nothing
to do with health matters.

I once drove around town and about 10 miles out on
the highway and back, wondering why there wasn't
much traffic. I thought maybe it was a holiday that I
had forgotten about. I was out driving for hours, got
home and saw my neighbour's car in her driveway. I
called her and asked why she hadn't gone to work -
she said because of the black ice. The police had asked
everyone to stay off the roads. I didn't know about the
black ice and didn't have one problem - of course I had
the highway to myself! If I had known about it, I am sure
I would have slid into a ditch!

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

CHECK OUT PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY...

Of course, we are all human. Of course we all have dark, dreary, scary, uncertain, awful thoughts and imagery to contend with. How could you go through our experience and not?!

The task at hand is to address such feelings, acknowledge them, vent them and then rid ourselves of them as quickly as we possibly can. The task is daunting, granted. But the rewards are grand! We feel better emotionally. And therefore, our Loved Ones feel better. So it's a gift we give ourselves, and others!!

We boost our immune systems as we raise our Spirits. It's a win/win situation! Be well all!

With love always,
<B>Andi

Click here: Psychoneuroimmunology

</B>

[PinkGirl]

Until you develop a healthy, conscious, creative and unconditional relationship to happiness you will always experience unhappiness.
(Robert Holden)

[Joan M]

Andi,

Thanks for your inspirational posts. Cancer is something we have to deal with, but when I'm challenged by this disease, I try to think about something I read.

What Cancer Cannot Do
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendships
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the Spirit

I'm grateful every day when I wake up, and I've been immensely encouraged by everyone in this community.

[Bill]

Awesome, Joan! Thanks for that post!

[Diana1993]

I just had a long self absorbed post and lost it when I pushed the wrong button. But I want to thank Andi for her post. I have read Deepek Chopra for years, and now Echert Tolle's The Awakening. I joined the Oprah book club and was on line Monday night. I know I must go in for answers, and seek guidance as to the next steps I should take in this journey. My onc says I have beaten the odds so many times and I attibute it by be active and forgetting about it. After dx I took up guitar lessons, yoga, and linedancing. Going to plays and local theatre have brought enjoyment. Once I get this hand/foot syndrome under control I plan on forgetting I have cancer again. Does anyone experience, oh heck, enough is enough?

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Joan, thank you. I have seen those powerful words about WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO before. A copy of it was in one of my oncologist's offices. I had a nurse Xerox it for me. It's in one of *my piles*, someplace around here. I am soooo glad to have it in front of me now!

I derived great strength from what I realized that canser can't do. It helped my mental imagery (that was hooked on how all-powerful this nasty disease is) gain ground. I have learned to *use* LOVE and the SERENITY that comes from BELIEVING in the power of my thoughts and my ability to control my thoughts (versus the other way around) -- to heal and stay healthy and well. THIS AWARENESS IS A REMARKABLE TOOL. And that was a huge Lesson for me! It took me over half a century of living to discover we could actually do this! I had thought I was a helpful victim of my haunting, taunting thinking and the images that plagued me.

I have found that we are each awesomely PERSONALLY EMPOWERED! What a Life Lesson!

It is wondrous that canser can't invade my Soul, conquer my Spirit or steal eternal life! I KNOW this is true, deep in my heart. It resonates.

I just want everyone to read your post, Joan! May those ideas permeate your consciousness, my Sisters, and give you the courage and resolve to keep moving forward...

Sending loving, healing energy to you all,
Andi

[Believe51]

Bill, I love Joan's post too. BUT....shame on you because I wrote this months ago in "Daily Inspirational Quotes" and this proves you need to keep reading and stop UTTERING!!!! ROTFL>> Lots of Love>>Believe51

PS: Bill, you make me smile everyday!!

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

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

[Bill]

Andi, "Lucky", my left butt, you make your own luck. Your doc. sounds really great, but everything you do and have done, and your attitude and mindset makes your luck. Same for everybody. Prayer, meditation, etc., (Marie, I cyberly (is that a word, "cyberly", omg did I just coin a new word?) bow my head to you in apology, obviously, I haven't done my homework.) (I know all of you propellerheads are thinking, "cybernetically", but I like "cyberly" better now- it saves on ink and it's easier to spell) Love to you all, Bill

[PinkGirl]

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
Lucius Seneca 5 BC-65 AD
(not Oprah)

[Bill]

Lady Pink, you've trumped me again. I cyberly bow my head to you as well.

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

Hey Bill, thanks, I appreciate the acknowledgement of my busting my fanny to get my Spirit, the Universe, God and my Spiritual Teachers and Guides who walk with me to collude, along w/my docs, surgeons and nurses to keep me well and healthy!

As you say, Pinkie, LUCK IS WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AND YOU ANSWER. Or, LUCK HAS A PECULIAR HABIT OF FAVORING THOSE WHO DON'T DEPEND ON IT!

Andi

[harrie]

Andi,
Wow, the words you wrote were very spiritual and powerful. This past year, I have begun to understand just what you are saying. I feel like I am starting to get a clear understanding of the management of life in a spiritual way. I feel like my knowledge and understanding is, at this point, just the tip of the iceberg, but it is very exciting yet challenging to feel that I am "seeing the light".
It seems to me that what I am personally trying to achieve is the control of my thoughts and emotions to the situations that come my way. I cannot control events that come to me, but I can control my reaction and choices made. I believe what I am trying to discipline most is my ego. What I am trying to develop most is my spirit.
I am try to balance being with doing.
My resolution for this year is to try to be more conscious of the thoughts and feelings that enter my head and to be aware of h my physical reaction. To me, that is a good start in alleviating stress and keeping things in the positive mode.
......my thoughts.....
And Andi, thank you for taking the time to share your spirituality with us.
Aloha, Maryanne

[harrie]

When you let go a little bit....you find a little happiness...
When you let go a lot, ....you will find a lot of happiness....
When you let go completely.....you find peace....