I've gone to two breast cancer survivor groups during this past month. I was invited to these meetings by a new friend and cancer survivor I met at a lecture on recent findings last month. Both experiences were wonderful and rich of knowledge and guidance.
In the first meeting I met a women who became my new friend. She was both a cancer survivor and current fighter of a cancer reoccurence. She came to my surgery setting on my February 4th appointment which settled the surgery date. She was a great support in describing all the terms, of giving examples in ways I could understand, in being a rock in a storm of information and feelings.
Another friend I now have throws pink parties, is part of many groups, and advocates for others as well. I like the idea of celebrating this passage and advocating for future cancer fighters in order to ease what is a hard process.
The second meeting was all about reconstruction -- a perfectly timed meeting I was eager to attend. These cancer survivors answered all my questions. Those who waited to reconstruct were happy with their choices and results; those who did immediate reconstruction also were happy with their choices and results. I've also learned that they were comfortable in having me see and touch actual results. A wise women's tribal counsel for this young Padawan.
In the end I've decided to do immediate reconstruction. I figured if I'm going to be in pain anyway then a bit more is ok. One woman did warn that hers felt like twice a childbirth. More on this to come ....
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