My parents came to visit yesterday.  They haven't seen me since my diagnosis..or pre-falling-out haircut.  My dad was teary-eyed...and I can't remember the last time my mother stood so close by me--touching, hugging, etc. (We're not a real touchy family!)
 
I'm handling my diagnosis well...thinking thoughts about how at least I'm the one with cancer, not my children...thinking about the parents of these young children that go through cancer...thinking about the poor little ones that need to go through chemo...  Thoughts like...I'm glad my kids are grown--the poor moms that go through this while trying to mother their little ones.  In the scheme of things, I don't have it so bad.
 
It never dawned on me that I am still someone's little girl!!!  Despite the fact that I'll turn 52 on my next treatment day...I'm still their daughter...and they are going through many of the same emotions that any parent of a cancer patient might go through!!  It was just such an odd thing to think of myself as a "child" again.  In a somewhat good/fuzzy/comforting sort of way!
 
I've rec'd so much love support from my church, my school (I teach), my community, my sisters, my children....it was so nice to realize that I'm still loved as a little child!
 
Just felt like sharing this!

Despite all the bad things about cancer, there are some good things also.  I believe that my family has grown closer and stronger since my diagnosis.

My mother passed away 1 year before my diagnosis and I remember more then anything wanting her to be there for me.  I wished she could just hold me while I cried, wished she could stroke my hair and tell me that everything would be ok, just like when I was a little girl.  I can totally relate to how you describe being a child again.

Every time I start feeling down about my diagnosis and longing for the old/normal me, well I start thinking about all of the other people that have it so much worse then me.  As a parent I can't even imagine how it would feel to have your child (even if they are an adult) go thru cancer.  I hope and pray every day that my daughter who is now 17 will never be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Yes, we are all still somebody's little girls.

Alison, 44. Woodland, WA.
DX 08/14/06, Left Mast, Nodes13-/1+, 4-AC/1-Taxol/3-Taxotere, Rads, BRCA neg.,Tram flap. Medullary carcinoma, triple neg. Carepage: Alisonirwin108

Artlab,

That was so sweet!  My mom told me not too long ago when we were talking about my driving and how it makes her nervous that when she looks over and sees me in the driver's seat she sees me as I was when I was 5 and she thinks, "what am I doing letting her drive!?!"  I thought that was so funny.  But its true, your always their baby no matter what your age...

Hugs,
Paula

Paula

2/26/09 DX Invasive ductal carcinoma multifocal, solid and cribriform type, 6 masses total, largest 2.0 cm
4/15/09 Bilateral mastectomy, skin sparring, tissue expanders, 3 nodes removed, clear, Grade 1, Stage IIa
5/22/09 DIEP
5/26/09 Emergent removal of left flap, TE placed
7/2/09 Left Lat Flap
8/10/09 Started 6 rounds Cytoxan & Taxotere 
A MAMMOGRAM SAVED MY LIFE, START AT AGE 40, DON'T LISTEN TO THE 'NEW' RECOMMENDATIONS

How about when I am driving and I suddenly have to step on the brakes and my arm automatically goes out across the chest of my daughter in the seat next to me?  They are 31 and 29.  Will I ever stop doing this?

Jean S

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops...at all.
Emily Dickinson

Stage IIB Grade 3 BC DX on 2-10-09
HER2+++
ER/PR+ 90% 
2 of 6 Node Positive
Double Mastectomy 2-23-09
Completed Chemo TC 7-10
Herceptin until 3-20-10
Arimidex for 5 years Started 8-09 

Jean...my dad always did that!  To answer your question...I'm sure you will never stop!!!

:)

Isn't it a nice feeling?

My Mom went to all appts and only missed 1 treament due to a blizzard.  She lives 45 min away and took off work for ME - just like when I was a child.

Like many mother-daughter relationships, we've definitely had our moments and I don't consider us very close.  Upon diagnosis, she donned her MOM cape and stepped in.  I gave her "that" look (you know the one ~ I can do this by myself) but realized how lucky I was to still have her.

I bit many a lip and swallowed several words over those long weeks.  Not once did I see her cry, she was amazing.  She packed snacks for each treatment and catered to my every whim.

I am an only child and she is a 28 yr ovarian cancer survivor.  She knew the ropes, so to speak, although treatments are so much "better" now.

Don't know what I would have done without her.  As much of a pain as she can be...I will miss her when she's gone.

MaryJo
Granger, Indiana
DX 6/27/08, age 45
Chemo survivor & lifetime supply of radiation

To endure is greater than to dare.  To tire out hostile fortune, to be daunted by no difficulty, to keep heart when all have lost it ~ who can say this is not greatness?      William Thackeray

:)

My daughter has been the one to go with me!