Charlotte
I was diagnosed with Stage I Lobular cancer in November of 2007 at the age of 48 and subsequently underwent lumpectomy and 33 radiation treatments. I have since failed Tamoxifen and Femara as adjunctive treatments and will soon be starting on another aromatase inhibiter.
Five years prior to my diagnosis my sister, Susan, died of Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP). She and I shared an admiration for dragonflies long before they were trendy. She died in the spring and after her passing dragonflies started following me around. Other people began to notice and would make comments about a beautiful dragonfly sitting at my feet or about how weird it was to have so many dragonflies around when there was no water in sight. I always felt it was Susan sending me a sign that she was still with me. After my diagnosis with cancer my doctors wanted me to find a support group. As a working wife and mother of four children, ages 6-14 when diagnosed, I felt I couldn’t spare the time to have dinner and talk like traditional support groups do. One night it occurred to me that it would be great to find a group that combined exercise with survivor support. I had never heard of dragonboats much less of Indy SurviveOars but I did an internet search and it popped right up. Now I’m exercising, which cancer hates, and I’m getting the support I need to forge ahead through the breast cancer journey. Being a part of this amazing group of women has given me strength both physically and emotionally. And, when we’re on the water and a dragonfly lingers near our dragonboat I feel my sister’s presence and hope that she is with us, too.
Five years prior to my diagnosis my sister, Susan, died of Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP). She and I shared an admiration for dragonflies long before they were trendy. She died in the spring and after her passing dragonflies started following me around. Other people began to notice and would make comments about a beautiful dragonfly sitting at my feet or about how weird it was to have so many dragonflies around when there was no water in sight. I always felt it was Susan sending me a sign that she was still with me. After my diagnosis with cancer my doctors wanted me to find a support group. As a working wife and mother of four children, ages 6-14 when diagnosed, I felt I couldn’t spare the time to have dinner and talk like traditional support groups do. One night it occurred to me that it would be great to find a group that combined exercise with survivor support. I had never heard of dragonboats much less of Indy SurviveOars but I did an internet search and it popped right up. Now I’m exercising, which cancer hates, and I’m getting the support I need to forge ahead through the breast cancer journey. Being a part of this amazing group of women has given me strength both physically and emotionally. And, when we’re on the water and a dragonfly lingers near our dragonboat I feel my sister’s presence and hope that she is with us, too.