tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84987700446859948622024-03-18T03:04:35.371+00:00Panning for GoldThe BRiC Centre Blog. (Building Resilience in Breast Cancer)BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-9965529707633676652021-07-31T09:52:00.002+01:002024-02-12T12:36:31.653+00:00Menopause: Our experiences and coping; BRiC's Collective Voice<p><br /></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our most recent Sunday discussion focused on the topic of Menopause, its impact on us and how we deal with its effects. </span></span><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;">This heated discussion revealed that chemically induced menopause through breast cancer treatment affected those of us who were in our 30s and 40s as well as those of us who’d experienced a natural menopause prior to diagnosis. What was agreed on was that the severity of a chemically induced menopause was much greater than a naturally occurring one. For those of us who’d already experienced menopause there was a chance to be affected by it yet again.</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;">A running concern through our comments revealed the lack of communication from our medical teams about menopausal effects, or how to manage them. We were to research the effects of treatment induced menopause ourselves and seek help on how best to manage the symptoms which are at most times debilitating. There were very few who reassuringly had more manageable symptoms. Many of us were grateful to support groups like BRiC who provided some information on how to address the symptoms. </span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;">Menopausal symptoms are challenging and can be debilitating. BRiC members discussed a vast range of symptoms affecting our quality of life: from vaginal atrophy and dryness, lack of libido and sexual dysfunction threatening our ability to maintain intimacy, to brain fog, forgetfulness, joint pain and cramps, as well as fatigue and hair loss, weight gain and let’s not forget hot flushes and insomnia… the list continues. </span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;">For many of us such symptoms persist for years post active treatment mainly sustained through endocrine therapies such as Tamoxifen, Anastrozole and Letrozole. The impact of such symptoms adversely affects our workability with many of us reporting that we’ve either had to scale down, take early retirement, or change jobs to less-demanding ones. Our self-esteem is affected and our confidence diminished in the workplace, with some of us reporting we felt dumb and stupid (something also pointed out by family members). A radically induced menopause with full blown symptoms can leave us emotionally and physically shattered and increase our vulnerability to anxiety and depression.</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68Gfhttg8CEw5Llw4j14Kh4Oyvu93WLQMc4qvMyqJi_gtCD7l18-onQnelmb-9NpuP3sXr4O9Nse0Z4YKqMUshfRzf0zKAJ6vg0NMsVV5uAcn4DJSjMJJpfRqoWtcRZHEwE5mr_hW62_j/s720/menopause.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68Gfhttg8CEw5Llw4j14Kh4Oyvu93WLQMc4qvMyqJi_gtCD7l18-onQnelmb-9NpuP3sXr4O9Nse0Z4YKqMUshfRzf0zKAJ6vg0NMsVV5uAcn4DJSjMJJpfRqoWtcRZHEwE5mr_hW62_j/s320/menopause.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;">We discussed the possibility of supplements aiding in the management of menopause, though these were organic developments not necessarily prescribed by our medical teams. Some of us mentioned Vitamin D and Calcium with Magnesium, as well as cod liver oil. Any supplements taken should be discussed with our medical teams we noted. Some of us mentioned that acupuncture has helped and many emphasised the positive effects of exercise and diet, though shedding weight even with a balanced diet and much exercise was a challenge for many. The benefits of exercise are long documented and research from BRiC shows that challenging our brains in adaptive ways can help with brain fog improving cognitive health. With research documenting a causal role for cognitive function in protecting against anxiety and depression, this self-management tool can only empower us with the control that cancer has so cruelly taken away. </span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, unlike cancer-free women, HRT is NOT an option for us as it can fuel recurrence and increase our chances of secondary breast cancer especially if our original diagnosis was hormone related. In fact some of us wondered if our diagnosis was fuelled by HRT in the first place. In addition, most women who are not affected by breast cancer do not know that HRT is NOT an option for us, so some comments on how HRT can help us may come across as insensitive. The fact is that there are no simple solutions for us.</span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;">No one symptom of menopause affects us in isolation, the symptoms are very much linked providing a difficult environment to function healthily at best of times. Our emotional, sexual and cognitive health are all interlinked as our bodies work in harmony. A collective threat to our basic functioning is damaging and our members' experiences clearly demonstrates the emotional and physical pain they endure. This calls for an urgent need for measures to systematically address menopausal effects, longer term. A link suggested by one of our admins: Dr Caroline Humber, provides some useful information as a starting point, but more needs to be done: </span><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://flipbooks.leedsth.nhs.uk/LN001794.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0zdADOA4vCJvZEJHN7i1piLpvbdJ-gccBiNSPUY2ahrh_ragbMgf9d22c" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: verdana; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; white-space: pre-wrap;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://flipbooks.leedsth.nhs.uk/LN001794.pdf</a></p><div><div class="" dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc ihqw7lf3 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_1ax" style="padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto" style="color: var(--primary-text); display: block; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZUlyvmguV0RhrhrGYjLJBYSTvaC7Os46OIMedtSmxo6xF2127-p1MoaKFjTm_OP81L5nuvtpQxoZxSq5UCHszfyfm24YPoE0R5v5qFTsraJhtNPovHuuh7BWC24Nw2wOeNhkJl4PuE2ywqP5AadYFAd8cS82puOZc3F6fp2b0jWAxjquYkazO5OwFByqagg1Z0&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#secondarybreastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/wellbeing?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZUlyvmguV0RhrhrGYjLJBYSTvaC7Os46OIMedtSmxo6xF2127-p1MoaKFjTm_OP81L5nuvtpQxoZxSq5UCHszfyfm24YPoE0R5v5qFTsraJhtNPovHuuh7BWC24Nw2wOeNhkJl4PuE2ywqP5AadYFAd8cS82puOZc3F6fp2b0jWAxjquYkazO5OwFByqagg1Z0&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#wellbeing</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/menopause?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZUlyvmguV0RhrhrGYjLJBYSTvaC7Os46OIMedtSmxo6xF2127-p1MoaKFjTm_OP81L5nuvtpQxoZxSq5UCHszfyfm24YPoE0R5v5qFTsraJhtNPovHuuh7BWC24Nw2wOeNhkJl4PuE2ywqP5AadYFAd8cS82puOZc3F6fp2b0jWAxjquYkazO5OwFByqagg1Z0&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#menopause</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/mentalhealth?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZUlyvmguV0RhrhrGYjLJBYSTvaC7Os46OIMedtSmxo6xF2127-p1MoaKFjTm_OP81L5nuvtpQxoZxSq5UCHszfyfm24YPoE0R5v5qFTsraJhtNPovHuuh7BWC24Nw2wOeNhkJl4PuE2ywqP5AadYFAd8cS82puOZc3F6fp2b0jWAxjquYkazO5OwFByqagg1Z0&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#mentalhealth</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/resilience?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZUlyvmguV0RhrhrGYjLJBYSTvaC7Os46OIMedtSmxo6xF2127-p1MoaKFjTm_OP81L5nuvtpQxoZxSq5UCHszfyfm24YPoE0R5v5qFTsraJhtNPovHuuh7BWC24Nw2wOeNhkJl4PuE2ywqP5AadYFAd8cS82puOZc3F6fp2b0jWAxjquYkazO5OwFByqagg1Z0&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#cognitivefunctions</span></a></div></div></span></div></div></div></div><div class="l9j0dhe7" id="jsc_c_1ay" style="position: relative;"><div class="l9j0dhe7" style="position: relative;"><div><a class="oajrlxb2 gs1a9yip g5ia77u1 mtkw9kbi tlpljxtp qensuy8j ppp5ayq2 goun2846 ccm00jje s44p3ltw mk2mc5f4 rt8b4zig n8ej3o3l agehan2d sk4xxmp2 rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 a8c37x1j mg4g778l btwxx1t3 pfnyh3mw p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x tgvbjcpo hpfvmrgz jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso l9j0dhe7 i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of du4w35lb lzcic4wl abiwlrkh p8dawk7l tm8avpzi" href="https://www.facebook.com/resilienceinbreastcancer/photos/a.226615521003390/1566503070347955/?__cft__[0]=AZUlyvmguV0RhrhrGYjLJBYSTvaC7Os46OIMedtSmxo6xF2127-p1MoaKFjTm_OP81L5nuvtpQxoZxSq5UCHszfyfm24YPoE0R5v5qFTsraJhtNPovHuuh7BWC24Nw2wOeNhkJl4PuE2ywqP5AadYFAd8cS82puOZc3F6fp2b0jWAxjquYkazO5OwFByqagg1Z0&__tn__=EH-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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z-index: 0;"><div class="bp9cbjyn j83agx80 taijpn5t c4xchbtz by2jbhx6 a0jftqn4" style="align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; width: calc(100% + 6px);"><div class="rq0escxv l9j0dhe7 du4w35lb d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz bp9cbjyn j83agx80 pfnyh3mw j5wkysh0 hytbnt81" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-shrink: 0; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v lrazzd5p a57itxjd" dir="auto" style="color: var(--secondary-button-text); display: block; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span class="a8c37x1j ni8dbmo4 stjgntxs l9j0dhe7 ltmttdrg g0qnabr5" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-15117319552925822412021-07-05T19:05:00.002+01:002024-02-11T18:04:26.781+00:00What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer? BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">When we are diagnosed we go through a trauma and our brains are emotionally overwhelmed. We asked our members what would have helped us at this emotional time when we are feeling vulnerable, tearful, and scared.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">For some of us, we would have liked to know “you will get through this”, that the treatment is “doable” but that the treatment wasn’t something we could “sail through”. And that those who offer toxic positivity “Stay strong, you’ll beat this” may drive us crackers. Some definitely learnt the hard way, trying to be “super woman” and “push through” while caring for everyone else as they always did, and would now offer advice of “take it one day at a time” and, a recurring theme, “listen to your body”, alongside encouraging women to take all the help offered by friends and family. A few members said “knowledge is power” which related to us gleaning as much information as we could about our disease and its treatment. However we acknowledged that it was easy to be overwhelmed with too much information and that we can all handle it at slightly different rates. Some of us did feel we had not been given enough information at the start of our treatment plan, that knowing the long term side effects more thoroughly could well have affected our treatment choice. This also ties in with, as one member put it, “be firm with your medical team, you are the expert on YOU”. Ask for copies of your medical reports if you are like me and need to know everything” And take time to consider choices you are given about your treatment, take a 15 minute walk round the car park if you need to in order to help clear your mind. Also, celebrate the wins: “if you get out of bed and stagger outside for a walk on some days that’s bloody amazing”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZgQ0lrDDy7ftXj9Vb7OroajDCVIFuNuIugnmm7T4Jt_Oro3TlG_BMhe0fZe4M5Sy4mZMUV59LJxz8c76m19AwRrZK83rX3GFOQzZaISIkBs1ggFjEC3Xq47-j1eh1fOPvattcdO5pNF1/s960/newlydx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZgQ0lrDDy7ftXj9Vb7OroajDCVIFuNuIugnmm7T4Jt_Oro3TlG_BMhe0fZe4M5Sy4mZMUV59LJxz8c76m19AwRrZK83rX3GFOQzZaISIkBs1ggFjEC3Xq47-j1eh1fOPvattcdO5pNF1/s320/newlydx.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">From an emotional level, we needed to be reminded to look after our stress levels, that “this too will pass” even if it takes a while to feel emotionally stronger. We should give our emotions the attention they deserve, that this is “your story”, that it was ok to not be super strong about this, that it was wise and even healthy to acknowledge our feelings. Some of us felt that some warning about the emotional rollercoaster that may happen afterwards would have been good, that we may push through emotionally to get through the treatment, but that we may crash down when it has finished, that even though our friends and family think it is all over when treatment has finished, it isn’t over for us. And that we may need to seek help at this point and acknowledge our struggle, and ask for support from a professional, many of us didn’t know this was available.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">For self care, we needed to know how to administer some self care! That breast cancer is a disease, not a cold. Members suggested treating ourselves with kindness and compassion, and also seeking out support groups such as ours, (Building Resilience In Breast Cancer private group or BRiC) to find women who would just “get it” and could provide some answers. One member said groups like BRiC gave her hope as there are members here who talk about being 5, 10 or 15 years post diagnosis and that helps us see beyond the immediate danger we feel. One member offered some practical self care advice that she would have liked: “You will laugh again. Eat well. Rest. Treat yourself. Take time in nature. Put on your best clothes and makeup - it will make you feel good” Another member said: “It’s ok to feel everything you feel, don’t bottle it up. This is crap, but if you stay open, your life will open up and change in ways that you would never have thought possible”.</span></span></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-84746145059328981502021-06-07T17:43:00.003+01:002024-02-11T18:04:48.080+00:00Things that get us excited and put breast cancer on the back burner: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">A recent </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday discussion of ours focused on “Some of the things that get us excited and put breast cancer on the back burner. Have you found something that reignites your joie de vivre?”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Naz started off by saying that she has used work as a distraction to her breast cancer, but that writing grants, publishing papers and supporting her students mainly gives her a “sense of happiness” </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Other members could relate to Naz on the issue of work, it distracts, gives them some normality, and by stretching themselves, gives them a sense of accomplishment too. Also, “being around my colleagues was very helpful to me, they were great”. One member is a tattooist, and, once she was allowed to work again post covid restrictions, has found a real buzz about her work, enjoying the creative process and doing what she loves.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A long term project has also helped one member, a project to convert a horsebox into accommodation. The project will allow her and her husband to travel, and afford them adventures, and make memories. This “happy project” gives a sense of accomplishment too, with a long term goal. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Creativity has been a great go-to for many of us, we have taken up art, written poetry, made jewelry, miniature flowers and renovated dolls houses. Activities such as knitting or crochet have proven links with mindfulness and improving depression so it is no surprise that this sort of creative process is something we reach for in various guises. Cancer has helped us push the boundaries of our abilities, and encouraged us to experiment and learn different techniques and skills - given one member a “self confidence I never had before”. We feel that sense of accomplishment again, and are surprised and pleased by it as many of these activities were initially taken up to distract us from our dark thoughts when we were on active treatment. We have found we want to carry on with them because of the joy they give us, in the process and the end result. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOSuMgeP0DHm7l_OPftciZSVl-63x4yapz_TU8qHeN-AojipNRG72H37oL-kLf_pKtnw9-NvOJqWF1-xVy1rd3C88GTvShY0mafztEbXEa1HHZi3gN6Th2repP_rSXfxCjpptvtmw3JHB/s960/happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOSuMgeP0DHm7l_OPftciZSVl-63x4yapz_TU8qHeN-AojipNRG72H37oL-kLf_pKtnw9-NvOJqWF1-xVy1rd3C88GTvShY0mafztEbXEa1HHZi3gN6Th2repP_rSXfxCjpptvtmw3JHB/s320/happy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being outside in nature was another common theme for us, how being outside helps us still our minds, looking at the space around us, the countryside, the colours, the expanse of space. Nature, animals, the night sky, camping and being with friends around an open fire makes us happy, helps us feel calm and chases away anxiety while we are in the moment. It allows time to reflect and get motivated by our own thoughts and theories. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We exercise too, if we are able to within our physical limitations: yoga, horse riding, dressage, running, long hikes, exercise classes at the gym. Setting an exercise goal, and hitting it gives us a natural endorphin high, and keeps us challenging ourselves. Or just having a dance to our favourite playlist!</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For some members, they are still searching for something that “clicks”. Reading a good book can provide escapism, but if our minds are wandering then we may not remember what we read. Sewing and yoga can give some temporary distraction but may not fully “excite or engage”. Our concentration and focus may have gone and anxiety has replaced it, we may struggle to look forward to events that gave us a joie de vivre before cancer, and that can block us from those activities that may have excited us before. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, we should be mindful of not using whatever gives us joy and excitement to help us avoid thinking about our breast cancer. It is healthier for our minds to not suppress our emotions, but give them the attention they deserve and when they deserve it. We are aware of pushing cancer to one side with the things we enjoy doing, but this can only be temporary and the darkness can return. We have to learn to live with the darkness we may sometimes fear and learn what we can do to excite us, what makes us smile and the world seem a little brighter. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-8030786399911805202021-05-22T09:10:00.001+01:002024-02-12T12:02:31.655+00:00Managing side effects of Endocrine Therapy: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is it too much to ask?</span></span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A recent Sunday discussion looked at the side effects of endocrine (hormone) therapy for those of our members with hormone positive breast cancer. Drugs such as tamoxifen, zoladex and aromatise inhibitors (such as anastrazol, exemestane, letrozole) are used to prevent recurrence or spread of cancer after a primary diagnosis or as part of ongoing treatment for those who live with secondary breast cancer.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Naz shared a research article published this month in the scientific journal Lancet Oncology which had reviewed the evidence for approaches to manage side effects. The article pointed out that hormone therapy causes a significant impact on quality of life and to adherence to medication. They feel that there should be an aim for breast cancer patients to be returned to pre-cancer quality of life and emotional/social function. Further, it was felt that this could only be achieved by careful management of side effect of anti cancer treatments. Members do not appear to receive much support to achieve this aim, with many being given a prescription for tablets to take for 5 or 10 years and then sent away with no further follow up.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Side effects can substantially affect our quality of life but stopping the medication could have an adverse impact on cancer survival. One article cited in the article found that 16% of pre-menopausal women stopped taking the medication due to side effects. Some of our members felt that side effects made them miserable with impaired quality of life but felt they had no follow up and that some felt their concerns were not taken seriously by medical teams. There seems to be a feeling that we should be grateful to have had our breast cancer treated and that side effects were just part of keeping the cancer away. Some had very helpful GPs but others felt their family doctor did not have the expertise of the oncology team who made the initial prescription.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc2GI5jkjhtwaXbNZuRU3GzuwfhyphenhyphenrIf9rfgiQFadpopyE3HgeRKZLADVJWF9LMnoxIfiWuwxtK_XplqXheVRXnl9iAhai8dHOSrfB8ecCWIIgZNpobv4eld3T1MPHM0wG2F2kibIelNCp/s1061/EC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1061" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc2GI5jkjhtwaXbNZuRU3GzuwfhyphenhyphenrIf9rfgiQFadpopyE3HgeRKZLADVJWF9LMnoxIfiWuwxtK_XplqXheVRXnl9iAhai8dHOSrfB8ecCWIIgZNpobv4eld3T1MPHM0wG2F2kibIelNCp/s320/EC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many side effects were reported by our members. Some were commonly recognised in breast cancer leaflets - hot flushes, joint pains, sexual dysfunction and reduced bone density. There were many others: vaginal dryness causing pain during intercourse, low mood, cognitive impairment (this often had a significant impact on work and home life), poor quality sleep and thinning of hair, nails and skin. For some, the joint pains were so severe, they struggled to walk.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As always, our members offered advice on what had helped them the most. Clearly there were some pharmaceutical prescriptions given by a doctor but there were also non-pharmaceutical options too. Many found a more holistic approach helpful using mindfulness techniques. Yoga and Pilates were found to ease stiff and painful joints. Exercise was found very helpful at helping lift mood, help reduce the frequency of hot flushes and improve sleep as well as improving fitness. Some members like to run, others to walk, cycle or garden. Others found the use of dietary supplement helpful, although it is important to check with your doctor, pharmacist or specialist nurse to ensure there are no interactions with prescribed treatments.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pain control was very important for those with muscle and joint pains. For some, simple pain killers such as paracetamol sufficed, for others pain control was much trickier - some had been referred to a rheumatologist and found this helpful. Acupuncture was also used, albeit with varying success. For many, however, they were left to try to manage pain in the absence of an oncology team. Sometimes a change in medication or a short break can make a lot of difference but these opportunities are not available in the absence of follow up support.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sexual dysfunction was very common, especially after the rapid menopause brought on by breast cancer treatments. Many members felt it hard to talk to medical teams about such a deeply personal issue. Vaginal dryness symptoms can be addressed with a prescribed but other symptoms such as loss of sex drive were much harder to talk about and even harder to find treatment in the absence of an oncology team with access to a psycho-sexual counselling team.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Almost universal amongst our members was the lack of information about benefits of treatment and harm from side effects. This meant that there was little opportunity to discuss in depth how much the treatment would benefit them and at what cost. Without this, there is no informed consent for drugs to be taken for up to 10 years. More than one member described being sent off with no follow up and a box of pills.For those who still had regular oncology follow up, this was felt to be useful and a good opportunity to get help.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our members know what they want and need to manage their symptoms:</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To be heard and believed when we say our symptoms are a struggle for us</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Access to ongoing oncology or breast cancer team support and follow up with a point of contact so we can report significant side effects and access treatment options.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Full information about benefits and risks at time of starting hormone therapy (not merely an information leaflet to take away and read)</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Better understanding from our employers at the changes in our physical well-being and cognition.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Given everything we have been through and will continue to go through, surely it is not too much to ask for?</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-64684018177155512402021-05-19T09:17:00.000+01:002024-02-11T18:06:00.989+00:00Unraveling the emotions behind grief and why do we grieve the loss of people we've never met: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a recent Sunday discussion we talked about grief, particularly about how we grieve for the loss of people we have never met, celebrities and public figures who we don’t know, but whose deaths cause many of us to feel profound grief.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: verdana; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grief is a complex emotion and affects us all differently, but it is something which we all experience in some way. People often talk of grieving as a process, but it is not a linear path, there are twists, turns, surprises and bumps in the road. As a group of women who have all had a breast cancer diagnosis, we were aware that deaths caused by cancer often touched us the most, perhaps reminding us of our own mortality or causing us to think “that could be me”. One of our members said that once we have had a cancer diagnosis our ability to live a carefree life has been taken away forever; thoughts of death may become an everyday part of our lives. We all know that none of us will live forever, but cancer steals away our peace of mind and may leave us in a constant state of worry for whatever life we have left.</span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of us have been raised to keep their emotions in check, finding expressions of grief unnatural and making the process of grieving more difficult. Cancer deaths often touch us very personally, even if it is the death of a total stranger, it can be hard to explain to others how the death of someone we don’t know affects us so deeply and stops us in our tracks. There were others who felt unaffected by the death of strangers or celebrities; members talked of needing their energy and focus to be on themselves and their loved ones; having a cancer diagnosis is exhausting and sometimes there is just not enough strength in us to think about people we don’t know. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SZQadjCQyQtHqVxZcsjCHLCDj0q1lw-mnywvfuzM8cHVGzxX8M9McWViPjELv_JO5mCijLEvGPUibt8hpbSgzddcRtYu6Yj9kFP4AqteQP7r4oRScrSDF8XHsVIiU7_965oir5jAtTus/s1280/Grief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SZQadjCQyQtHqVxZcsjCHLCDj0q1lw-mnywvfuzM8cHVGzxX8M9McWViPjELv_JO5mCijLEvGPUibt8hpbSgzddcRtYu6Yj9kFP4AqteQP7r4oRScrSDF8XHsVIiU7_965oir5jAtTus/s320/Grief.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For some the public outpouring of grief often seen when a celebrity dies, is uncomfortable and sits uneasily with them. Occasionally it is the similarity between the deceased and ourselves which causes grief – “he was the same age as me”, “her children are the same age as mine”, “they were married as long as my mum and dad”, “her diagnosis was the same as mine” – all these things can hit home and remind us of our own tenuous grasp on life.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We questioned whether what we feel when a stranger dies is actually grief, or is it empathy; fear; compassion; sadness; anger? Perhaps all of these emotions are part of grief, but we wondered if it is really the same as losing a loved one. Anger was an emotion many of us shared, particularly when we hear the words “died of cancer”, we are acutely aware that cancer is indiscriminate and such a cruel disease. It was interesting that the age of the deceased was pivotal for some members, feeling less sadness for those dying at an old age, but grieving deeply for those who die young; however this wasn’t the case for everyone, some members felt all deaths were equally distressing no matter the age of the person who dies. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sadness for those left behind was an overarching theme, we acknowledged that part of grief is facing the future without someone. The sight of someone left alone after a lifetime with a partner can be heart-breaking to see. Sometimes when hearing of a death it reminds us of those we have lost and old memories can resurface, not all of them good. The death of parents was something many of us could relate to, for most bringing mixed emotions, sadness and loss, but happy memories and feelings of warmth; sadly, for others childhood memories were not so good and reminders of deceased parents brought painful memories. One of our members paraphrased Jamie Anderson saying: “Grief is just love with nowhere to go” and we all felt that grief for those we love and care about is usually much more powerful than for the celebrities and public figures. However, there were several mentions of times when the death of a celebrity has affected us deeply, sometimes taking us by surprise, leaving us distraught and feeling completely lost. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Grief is not one emotion, it is not simple and it is not the same for everyone, but one emotion which underlies grief is empathy, empathy for the person who has died, for their loved ones, for others around them. Empathy is a powerful emotion and enables us to make connections, even with people we don’t know personally. Grief and death are frequently taboo subjects but having a cancer diagnosis means we have all had to face the possibility of our own death, even more so for those of us with a secondary diagnosis; knowing we can express our fears in our private group enables us to share that burden. We can say “I’m sad about her dying because it could be me” without fear of being judged. It is important to understand that grief is a natural process, not linear and not time-constrained. People grieve in different ways and for different reasons, but each is valid.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-80183055720762093052021-05-14T09:32:00.000+01:002024-02-12T12:24:15.838+00:00"You'll beat cancer if you stay positive" BRiC's Collective Voice on 'The toxic positivity effect'<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">‘You’ll beat cancer if you stay positive’. A recent Sunday discussion was on the topic of ‘toxic positivity’ and its impact on our emotional well-being. With just over 200 comments from our members, this discussion hit close to our heart.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Our members have many a time heard the words ‘stay positive’, ‘a positive mindset will breeze you through chemo’, ‘You are so beating cancer’s arse’ ‘If you stay positive, you will get through this’, ‘You caught this early, you’ll be fine’, ‘You’ve SO got this’, ‘If anyone can kick cancer’s arse its you’, ‘You’ve got the better cancer’. However, the reality of how these words make us feel is very far from positive.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">What became quickly clear was a sense of how our feelings of fear and sadness due to cancer are minimised by others. We felt we were not allowed to be anxious, sad or fearful. A member said, ‘it shook me to the core’, and another saying ‘it was deeply painful’, when needing to smile whenever her cancer was mentioned. What we almost all agreed on was that the relentless positivity force hindered our ability to process the trauma that we had endured, minimising our emotions to meet the expectation of others, and this we found utterly exhausting and effortful.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Many of us felt that putting on our positivity cloak was a must for others around us as they would not be able to cope. This extended to immediate family, friends, and colleagues. Sometimes, we’ve had to apologise for not ‘coping’, amid not being allowed to grieve the losses we experience due to cancer. There was a sense that we felt less positive whenever we tried to enforce this positivity, and so we’ve ended up being selective in our approach, censoring what we say to whom and pretending everything is fine and allowing ourselves the dishonesty to others when our feelings are not validated. This has meant we’ve lost friends and family members along the way.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">The truth is that pretending that we are ok when we are not, is not a helpful line to take. We are not doomed and gloomed, we do have ‘positive’ days and we are hopeful and resilient, we want to survive to the best of our ability, and this is a really delicate point when it comes to secondary breast cancer. But the reality is that our fears can be very real to us. The sadness from the loss to our identity, and the side effects of treatment which linger on for years put us in a vulnerable position and can be limiting. In fact, we are not fighting cancer, but we are fighting the side effects of treatment. We acknowledged that embracing our difficult and upsetting feelings can help us experience a multitude of emotions that can only be beneficial longer term. We’ve learned that suppressing our emotions will backfire, validating them, and addressing them with appropriate tools can lessen the need for the ‘toxic positivity’ which we have found unhelpful.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLW3Jx0QAEs_HIEWicds-gYmYa-M5NDF1UfE8m-veFIOhCu_pLBmHxMZMBhrw0og7CyByI_IH06I-0kPqQpC3qX3kmLuS-Ad9kQKI3lVrv3fi2hmrZ_TWmemQcdq5BCMcHhpelETQMNwy/s2048/balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLW3Jx0QAEs_HIEWicds-gYmYa-M5NDF1UfE8m-veFIOhCu_pLBmHxMZMBhrw0og7CyByI_IH06I-0kPqQpC3qX3kmLuS-Ad9kQKI3lVrv3fi2hmrZ_TWmemQcdq5BCMcHhpelETQMNwy/s320/balloons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">An interesting point that emerged was a delayed experience of Post Traumatic Stress symptoms when we’ve in fact tried to be jolly and ‘positive’ through treatment. The reality of what has hit us has emerged later after a few years. This evidence shows that the inability to process the trauma that we have endured has led to a delayed onset of PTSD symptoms which isn’t the longer term aim of ‘being positive’.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">We can refuse to be jolly and sunny when having sad days. We believe that a positive outlook is helpful of course but not the relentless optimism which can be blinding. We have learned that we can accept our vulnerabilities without resigning to them, and by embracing our emotions we are not denying them the attention they deserve.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">We concluded that allowing us to ‘feel’ is to ‘empower’. A balanced approach to our emotional experiences will suit us better longer term. In fact, there is good evidence to show that one of the reasons behind depression is the inability to fulfil positive expectations. We do not want to feel depressed, we want to be able to thrive and grow from our trauma, so counter intuitively or not forcing the positivity cloak on can only increase the discrepancy between where we are and where we are expected to be.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">If you are a woman with breast cancer, living in the UK and would like to join our private group, message us here or leave your name in the comments and we will get back to you.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/mentalhealth?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXAO7AXYuW4DXwAoujqCXXWYUnjMKt2zDUCvG4z8B4ns33_-PnS4nUae0lkvXHAG96ujnuTnwAY8CoWIDdWBpFuDoYMx3VBRElFekGsma2hikZfeaczfwNfQ4kCnfNnlYb5e1AaRl1zq7jPoCVACeyPdh02_0UKwFI-T0oVRliywVVgLWl0yyOQSBJc1zx3UY0&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#mentalhealth</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/resilience?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXAO7AXYuW4DXwAoujqCXXWYUnjMKt2zDUCvG4z8B4ns33_-PnS4nUae0lkvXHAG96ujnuTnwAY8CoWIDdWBpFuDoYMx3VBRElFekGsma2hikZfeaczfwNfQ4kCnfNnlYb5e1AaRl1zq7jPoCVACeyPdh02_0UKwFI-T0oVRliywVVgLWl0yyOQSBJc1zx3UY0&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#resilience</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXAO7AXYuW4DXwAoujqCXXWYUnjMKt2zDUCvG4z8B4ns33_-PnS4nUae0lkvXHAG96ujnuTnwAY8CoWIDdWBpFuDoYMx3VBRElFekGsma2hikZfeaczfwNfQ4kCnfNnlYb5e1AaRl1zq7jPoCVACeyPdh02_0UKwFI-T0oVRliywVVgLWl0yyOQSBJc1zx3UY0&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#breastcancer</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/secondarybreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXAO7AXYuW4DXwAoujqCXXWYUnjMKt2zDUCvG4z8B4ns33_-PnS4nUae0lkvXHAG96ujnuTnwAY8CoWIDdWBpFuDoYMx3VBRElFekGsma2hikZfeaczfwNfQ4kCnfNnlYb5e1AaRl1zq7jPoCVACeyPdh02_0UKwFI-T0oVRliywVVgLWl0yyOQSBJc1zx3UY0&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#secondarybreastcancer</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/stage4breastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXAO7AXYuW4DXwAoujqCXXWYUnjMKt2zDUCvG4z8B4ns33_-PnS4nUae0lkvXHAG96ujnuTnwAY8CoWIDdWBpFuDoYMx3VBRElFekGsma2hikZfeaczfwNfQ4kCnfNnlYb5e1AaRl1zq7jPoCVACeyPdh02_0UKwFI-T0oVRliywVVgLWl0yyOQSBJc1zx3UY0&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#stage4breastcancer</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/stage4needsmore?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXAO7AXYuW4DXwAoujqCXXWYUnjMKt2zDUCvG4z8B4ns33_-PnS4nUae0lkvXHAG96ujnuTnwAY8CoWIDdWBpFuDoYMx3VBRElFekGsma2hikZfeaczfwNfQ4kCnfNnlYb5e1AaRl1zq7jPoCVACeyPdh02_0UKwFI-T0oVRliywVVgLWl0yyOQSBJc1zx3UY0&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#stage4needsmore</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/busylivingwithmets?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXAO7AXYuW4DXwAoujqCXXWYUnjMKt2zDUCvG4z8B4ns33_-PnS4nUae0lkvXHAG96ujnuTnwAY8CoWIDdWBpFuDoYMx3VBRElFekGsma2hikZfeaczfwNfQ4kCnfNnlYb5e1AaRl1zq7jPoCVACeyPdh02_0UKwFI-T0oVRliywVVgLWl0yyOQSBJc1zx3UY0&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#BusyLivingWithMets</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl oo9gr5id gpro0wi8 lrazzd5p" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/positivity?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXAO7AXYuW4DXwAoujqCXXWYUnjMKt2zDUCvG4z8B4ns33_-PnS4nUae0lkvXHAG96ujnuTnwAY8CoWIDdWBpFuDoYMx3VBRElFekGsma2hikZfeaczfwNfQ4kCnfNnlYb5e1AaRl1zq7jPoCVACeyPdh02_0UKwFI-T0oVRliywVVgLWl0yyOQSBJc1zx3UY0&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#positivity</a></span><p></p>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-9283740622907449672021-04-09T13:27:00.000+01:002024-02-12T12:06:07.657+00:00Effects of breast cancer on our partners and how we are affected by their coping strategies: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">The focus of a recent Sunday discussion topic allowed us to explore and discuss the effects of our breast cancer diagnosis on our partners and how we are affected by their coping strategies. A diagnosis of breast cancer is a hugely physical, mental, and emotional challenge; surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other breast cancer drug treatments can stretch us to our limits of coping. With that shared understanding of the challenges that breast cancer presents to us, Sunday night’s discussion provided an opportunity to look at how our partners’ coping strategies impact us. Partners’ ability to cope and our response to that are inextricably linked as our conversation highlighted. </span></span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were several common themes that emerged from the discussion. These ranged from partners’ coping strategies that included their ability to be fully supportive on both a practical and emotional level, partners whose support extended to a practical level only, and several examples of a total absence of any kind of support which included one of our group members whose partner was present for a week following her diagnosis but who, after that early stage of diagnosis, had not been seen since.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of our group members were able to give examples of how partners attended hospital appointments with them whilst some reported that their own personal desire to be independent and strong and, in a way to protect their partners, saw them attending hospital appointments and treatment sessions alone. This, however, led to a realisation in one case about how that had alienated her partner. One member poignantly explained that her partner ‘didn’t attend any appointments’ and ‘never has and doubt ever will, support me emotionally.'</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were examples of partners’ behaviour being less than supportive. One of our group members was described as ‘lazy and milking it’ by her partner. Another described her breast diagnosis as triggering jealousy on his part leading to a faked suicide attempt. Both relationships ended because of wholly unacceptable behaviour on the partner’s part. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were several examples of partners being fully and totally supportive which included the ability to talk and acknowledge our emotional needs. However, there was a wide range of experiences and personal accounts that highlighted the inability of many of our partners to provide emotional support. Often partners’ views included an inability to understand the need to talk about the breast cancer once active treatment had finished with an attitude of ‘Why? It’s over now,’ along with an approach that included a lack of understanding of late effects of treatment with one member describing how ‘the instant it finished he expected me to be better.’</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT58_sqQZnKChnsGfesmrvwrOzKJO0iY6fU9XOUCqI4R4raMPyt5MmVQpTWe1nTCpQ25TKPknNv5V-103uAvlYMq-z4CQJoH4k_Dq3NtPj-31rNkXRgHjx34D9puo4JNxuYUKPNbyh6Hc_/s2048/partnersholdinghands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT58_sqQZnKChnsGfesmrvwrOzKJO0iY6fU9XOUCqI4R4raMPyt5MmVQpTWe1nTCpQ25TKPknNv5V-103uAvlYMq-z4CQJoH4k_Dq3NtPj-31rNkXRgHjx34D9puo4JNxuYUKPNbyh6Hc_/s320/partnersholdinghands.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thoughts were expressed around the worry and concern that some of us feel that we have caused our partners with support coming from other group members that served to remind us all that we are not to blame for how our breast cancer diagnosis has made our partners feel. Emotions like guilt and anger were described in relation to how our partners’ strategy for coping in response to our breast cancer diagnosis manifested itself. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In some cases, support that was evident in the beginning waned over time resulting in partners becoming depressed and one experiencing a breakdown. Our discussion highlighted the need for professional support to be available for our partners so that were aren't left carrying the burden of their emotional needs along with our already challenged emotional mechanisms. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The importance of our partners being able to talk openly and freely with us about their feelings around our breast cancer is clear but it seems that there are so many of our partners that are unable to share how they are feeling emotionally, sometimes for fear of upsetting us whilst in other examples, it’s clear that they don’t want to talk about or discuss the topic. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our ability to cope is enhanced or otherwise, by the level of practical and emotional support shown to us by our partners. This was a recurring theme that highlights, and especially if our partners are male, that expressing emotions can be challenging. One of our members described her ‘emotional recovery as something I have to very much deal with on my own.' The view that there’s a need to closely examine how young males are raised so that they are much better placed to express their emotions and fears was raised by one of our members with a reference to how ‘suicide figures bear this out.' </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The experiences described within our group are broad and diverse and although we are individual in the way that we respond to our breast cancer diagnosis, we share the need to be able to talk about how our diagnosis affects us, especially with our partners. There is an expectation that we should be fully supported emotionally and sadly this is often lacking. However, an example highlighted from one of our members whose partner had experienced a cancer diagnosis himself showed that personal experience of the disease led to a better understanding. Another of our members who recently experienced the agonising personal turmoil of watching her father deteriorate in the lead up to his death expressed that ‘sense of powerlessness that’s so hard to bear’, which helped to put into perspective somewhat the viewpoint of some of our partners’ experiences. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We acknowledge as a group that our voices need to be heard, alongside a level of empathy and understanding from our partners about the fears of reoccurrence and late and on-going effects of breast cancer treatment. Many of our partners seem able to cling to their fears by not expressing how they feel. Support in the form of counselling or other talking therapies has in several members’ experiences been hugely helpful. NHS provision of that kind of support, as a standard package of care, and as a readily available option for partners from the beginning of our breast cancer diagnosis might be helpful in supporting emotional recovery following our breast cancer diagnosis, enhancing our resilience and coping mechanisms. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you to all of our group members who participated in this rich discussion to highlight our points of view on this topic. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-19747049926626877182021-04-05T11:15:00.003+01:002024-02-11T18:07:58.848+00:00Our anxieties coming out of lockdown: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The topic for a recent Sunday night’s discussion suggested by our lovely Anita Traynor, focused on how we feel about, ‘coming out of lockdown’. Naz led the discussion by sharing her personal reflections as we explored our thoughts and opinions on the topic.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lockdown has played an important part in protecting our well-being and in doing so it’s also ‘over-protected’ our social life and social connections as well as our relationship with the outside world. Anxiety about whether it will ever be the same again, anxiety about whether we will hit another wave and go back into lockdown, the fear of whether we will be exposed too much and become vulnerable, and anxiety about social interactions and how they will 'look'. A lot of us have changed the way we work and study, so there is the uncertainty hanging over what it will look and feel like should we go back to the way 'things were'.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of our members had mixed feelings about all this, whilst many of us felt a nervousness, some members actually were not anxious, as all they seemed to hear was how scared people are. There was a common understanding around this as it has been one ‘heck’ of a year and the situation is set to continue for some while yet, as described by a majority of us.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of our ladies have made plans and need the ‘taste’ of normality in order to look forward to the future with optimism.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A number of our members have become much more solitary and the loneliness has had a significant impact on our mental health and well-being, we acknowledged similar feelings when we went through our breast cancer journey, however we found that trying new things like meditation, arts and crafts, experiencing the beauty of nature has helped us cope better.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are worried about resuming ‘normal’ life as some of us don’t wish to go back to how busy life was before the pandemic, and have made firm decisions to learn to say ‘no’ to too many social engagements, as many of us are most comfortable and safe in our own homes and familiar surroundings.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of us who are keyworkers have travelled to work throughout the lockdown despite restrictions in place. Seeing patients has been tough for nurses; the anxiety around having to start organising clinics for patients and the fear of how safe we may feel is going to be a challenge.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of us are excited and looking forward to seeing our families, friends and colleagues. We yearn to hug our nearest and dearest, the laughter, the touch, the sharing of emotions and face-to-face meetings. However it may not come naturally and may take some time to adjust to a ‘new normal’.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_gfQYMuupWFT2rg5rPGwv-UR5ISIwRjqqxs9X0QErJcB7gkxCV7SbZJE8CCa5LhMKfFyWTDD6UhJGFOGLOROqLx61lBAfFQdsnxxvHfP-6xeIOipHGYcs0321oqI7lqTw_jRLiKzMEfc/s1200/Lockdown3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_gfQYMuupWFT2rg5rPGwv-UR5ISIwRjqqxs9X0QErJcB7gkxCV7SbZJE8CCa5LhMKfFyWTDD6UhJGFOGLOROqLx61lBAfFQdsnxxvHfP-6xeIOipHGYcs0321oqI7lqTw_jRLiKzMEfc/s320/Lockdown3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The sadness around not being able to be with others during their hour of need, not being able to be together at funerals to support each other and missing many milestone events like, weddings, birthdays, new babies, graduations and the list goes on. But we have been fortunate enough to have had the internet technology we have nowadays, which has let us connect with our loved ones and mark these occasions differently.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We sometimes bounce between two opposite views. Sometimes we are desperate to get back out into the wider world, eating in the restaurants, travel, theatre, going to the cinema, seeing friends and on the other hand we feel anxious about whether we will ever feel safe in these types of surroundings.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whilst some of have had the option of working from home, we now fear the pressures of employers wanting us to return back into the office. We are experiencing negative thoughts, like, will I be safe? Would they accept me? Can I still do the job? We need to be open, honest and share how we are feeling, which can be a challenge, so therefore circumstances make us feel trapped.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The rollout of the vaccination programme which is in place gives us hope and a sense of protection, that our fears will subside in time, as we learn to live with the virus and also have some kind of freedom to do what we enjoy.</span></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-21399706909957750082021-04-03T18:48:00.007+01:002024-02-12T10:36:12.775+00:00Searching for the hero inside ourselves: BRiC's Collective Voice<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">"Who/What is the hero inside yourself?" A recent Sunday discussion </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">talked about what we are proud of, what makes us strong, what it is that keeps us going through all we have to endure?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Sometimes it’s difficult to see oneself as any kind of hero, more often we are focused on day to day tasks, the mundane roles we play, or the struggles and pain we deal with. Often we don’t see our own strength or our inner hero until we have time to stop and reflect on events, be those in the recent or distant past.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">It was interesting that many of our members opened their contribution to this discussion by describing how they struggled to find their hero within. As the discussion progressed we found our strengths and saw the beauty inside ourselves. Strength was a recurring theme, many of us talked about an inner strength, often brought to the fore by our breast cancer diagnosis; being faced with our mortality and the trauma of cancer awakened what one member called her “steely core”. We found courage and determination, stoicism and self-awareness, we realised that we are often stronger than we knew. A few members related that they were now braver than before, they were willing to try new things and were less afraid of failing. “With cancer suddenly thrown into my path, I realised I had no reason NOT to try, so I did.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi7-O3WUsnEKuSKALsFh6OPHaSs45H5s00jPd2AXS74ga-41cwGOpiXGztZ7BWxxq9XBIraf9bquJ6iQd6UOXC3TubKuFMBX66X-dtYPwccSU0bQpCykV9HaZszBsftidl3f_W6gJxB2v/s1080/heros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggi7-O3WUsnEKuSKALsFh6OPHaSs45H5s00jPd2AXS74ga-41cwGOpiXGztZ7BWxxq9XBIraf9bquJ6iQd6UOXC3TubKuFMBX66X-dtYPwccSU0bQpCykV9HaZszBsftidl3f_W6gJxB2v/s320/heros.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Lots of us talked about how our parents were a huge part of building that strength, some by their support and example, others because they weren’t the parents we needed, but still taught us valuable lessons. Dads especially seemed to instil in us self-belief and resilience. Memories of childhood experiences both good and bad were frequently mentioned and it was generally agreed that being surrounded by love allowed us to grow stronger.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">We talked about nurturing our inner hero, practising self-care and not worrying if we have bad days; safe in the knowledge that we are tough enough to get through it and things will get better. Some of us were proud of being able to acknowledge when we need help, of finding the courage to ask for help and accepting it when offered. Asking for help actually takes a lot of strength and courage. It’s as important to understand our own vulnerability as it is to be proud of our strength. We are proud of keeping going when things are difficult, of getting up when we are knocked down and of helping others despite our own problems. One member said her inner hero came from her innate kindness.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">It was acknowledged that we all have wobbly days, that we can’t be strong all the time and that we are a work in progress. For many of us our inner hero comes from the ability to step back, to say no and to choose our path. We know that we are complex beings, our emotions are part of who we are and we both absorb and reflect our life experiences; for our group breast cancer is a shared experience which has affected us all, but we are each individual and our experiences are as individual as we are. Our experience has helped some of us to focus on ourselves, to never lose hope, to see the bright side, to be true to ourselves, to value ourselves and to take time for that hero within. It’s also helped us to face those bad days, to overcome the negativity, but to accept that we won’t always be happy and smiling; that it’s fine to be sad sometimes, to be angry, to cry, to scream and shout if we need to.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Our inner hero was described as a many faceted diamond, the faces all different colours, some dark, some bright, reflecting our emotions, but whether dark or bright the diamond still sparkles. This is our inner hero, the woman who keeps going through it all, who has good and bad days, but never quite loses her glow. Sometimes we might find it hard to believe that there is a hero in there, sometimes we might feel we aren’t good enough, that we are failing, but if we stop for a moment and remember all we’ve done, all those things we are proud of, then we will see that inner hero sparkling like a diamond.</span></span><p></p>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-40793965148928816352021-03-26T09:42:00.000+00:002024-02-11T18:09:11.183+00:00"What we resist, persists"; BRiC on how we embrace our mixed emotions after loss<p> </p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A recent Sunday topic for discussion focused on acknowledging the many mixed emotions we are feeling right now; for the losses we’ve experienced, coming to terms with how we feel, and being mindful of the pain we may be going through. This topic was very sensitively suggested by Naz after a hugely emotionally challenging week in which we all felt shocked and sad at the death of our wonderful administrator and friend, Bex Lewis. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Commonly expressed was the vulnerability that we all feel following Bex's death and how the impact of that is far-reaching. It triggers so much sadness and grief within us, as we mourn for the many precious lives that have been cut short. It’s only a matter of weeks since Fiona, another hugely valued and much-loved member of our administrative team died. We experience feelings of fear, disbelief, and sometimes despair as we reflect on what the future holds for each of us. None of us are immune to the possibility of secondary spread of breast cancer and for those of us currently living with the advanced version of this disease, the anxiety, and uncertainty about what lies around the corner is amplified. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are each forced to face our own mortality every time we receive the devastating news that a member of our group has died but it’s reassuring to know that we are not alone in feeling emotionally vulnerable and fragile. Naz’s academic expertise and professional knowledge around how our brains respond to trauma helps to guide us. She is able to gently articulate the reminder, that as humans, our brains are hardwired to feel fear. This is part of our protective mechanism as we scour our internal and external landscape for danger as “a threat to our own survival has been flagged yet again.” Along with that comes the supportive message to us all, that “it’s ok not to feel ok.” </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Each of us can behave harshly towards ourselves as we tell ourselves that we should be able to cope or better manage our feelings and emotions. Several of our members commented on how exhausted it makes us feel, as we try to muddle through the emotions in our minds. We acknowledged that talking to ourselves in a way that sees us trying to fight or resist our difficult emotions isn’t helpful. Instead, many of us are gradually accepting and understanding that if we embrace how we are feeling, this is much more nurturing and supportive of our wellbeing in the long run. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgYN6rnRGB8We4GzNKfP-kvyN3kv9HzYKhzbU_5GE7xqJQidm8JKSfnQ3wscaxYVpjjDQ312NEaZA0LlQFvbzCNALYR8RTUV7Ep6YARj71kzmo_m-Q4S5Lmbah6ryw7tQPJ2mEPIoy8Ar/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="843" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgYN6rnRGB8We4GzNKfP-kvyN3kv9HzYKhzbU_5GE7xqJQidm8JKSfnQ3wscaxYVpjjDQ312NEaZA0LlQFvbzCNALYR8RTUV7Ep6YARj71kzmo_m-Q4S5Lmbah6ryw7tQPJ2mEPIoy8Ar/" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As individuals, several of us were able to open up and reflect on recent tragic circumstances and losses within our own families, friendship groups, and local communities. We are all one family here in BRIC but of course, we know we’re all part of wider families, friendships, and communities. There are many of us who have been recently trying to cope with feelings of sadness and grief in connection with experiences of loss closer to home. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The word ‘rollercoaster’ was used several times to describe the peaks and troughs of our emotional responses. Some of us are looking to a future that we know won’t include us and that burden weighs heavy as we present our ‘brave face’ to the world. The highs and lows of our emotions often manifest themselves in us becoming angry and frustrated at seemingly small things but our discussion highlighted a more accurate picture; that it’s not really the small things that are triggering us, it’s the layers that we’ve piled over the big things in our lives that see our emotional response bursting to be freed and acknowledged. This is upsetting for us as we reflected, that often, we don’t feel in control of our emotions however our discussion helped to shine a salient spotlight on this: we don’t have to put pressure on ourselves to be in control of our emotions; this is an impossible task. Blocking tears and burying things inside of us only serves to help our emotionally challenged internal landscape to become more overloaded. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is an expression in mindfulness which is, what we resist, persists. This is a gentle reminder that facing all of our emotions head-on with kindliness and self-compassion is much more helpful in bolstering the vulnerability of our human experience as we encounter both pleasant and unpleasant feelings, thoughts and emotions. To accept only the pleasant aspects of our experience is to acknowledge only one-half of each of us. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The opportunity to talk, connect, and be part of our collective voice is life-enhancing and life-affirming. Hearing the message that all of our feelings are valid, that it’s ok not to be ok and that BRIC is a safe place where we can receive and accept support is very much felt and hugely appreciated.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“If we are physically hurt, loving our wounds, and nurturing them with TLC, makes them heal faster, ignoring them doesn’t.”</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The life lessons, insights, and sharing that our Sunday night discussion provides help us to embrace all aspects of ourselves. We are held together by our experience of breast cancer and we are all heard. Sharing and communicating with one another helps us to feel supported, uplifted, and less afraid. We are helping one another to face all of our emotions. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-273132133389089932021-03-17T08:48:00.003+00:002024-02-11T18:09:51.427+00:00Quality of treatment and early diagnosis: "A geographical lottery for some"? BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quality of treatment and early diagnosis: "A geographical lottery for some"?</span></span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A recent BRiC Sunday topic discussed early detection of cancer and if we feel that our treatment has not been all we would have wished for, for whatever reason, how do we come to terms with that?</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our women, with primary or secondary diagnoses, felt this a most pertinent subject to discuss and the variation in our experiences was vast. Quite quickly, it became clear that not just a small but large proportion of our women had concerns about the lack of tools in early diagnosis, and their implementation in picking up signs of primary breast cancer and metastasis in secondary breast cancer.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Amongst our biggest concerns were failures in initial diagnosis (inconclusive tests not followed up) and considerable delays in getting diagnosed. For the former, some of the initial tests were unable to confirm a diagnosis and were not always followed up with a biopsy to produce conclusive results. Some expressed their fears around missing lumps on mammograms. Some expressed their disappointment of being ignored for tests when later they were diagnosed with lobular cancer, which is hard to diagnose in the absence of a lump. These all were believed to lead to the danger of letting tumours grow and metastasise. Given that breast cancer can express itself in all kinds of forms, it is worrying to hear so many accounts of late diagnosis.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Equally, a common issue experienced by many was the long interval between seeing our GP and getting tests for breast cancer. Some of our members believe they were ‘ignored’, that their ‘red flags’ were not seen, that their concerns were attributed to benign factors like age, muscle tenderness (or injury), fatigue and overdoing it at work. When in fact, they had breast cancer and it was undetected. For some an experience of a red rash was responded with ‘there’s nothing to worry about’. This coupled with the delay in administering tests led to a primary turning into a secondary diagnosis. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of us had experienced considerable delays from when we found a lump (for example in 2011, but not diagnosed until 2014). Similarly, we had a member say, “they could have done without the nearly a year of going back and forth to the breast unit and being told it was only a 'cyst’.”</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-duD0l_WLfF2f3RLAqVKFxK7mWIpnF3PaKodpG1a-p3_JNxpubL_GgTsnN7cRJURB5VlrQ4fMoRKrUUVteuty3QIrXgdyjkVdqAn2ziB6g2bxZemo6aDfCMs3WjbIn8spv2PN-L08bESQ/s1000/qualityoftreatment.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-duD0l_WLfF2f3RLAqVKFxK7mWIpnF3PaKodpG1a-p3_JNxpubL_GgTsnN7cRJURB5VlrQ4fMoRKrUUVteuty3QIrXgdyjkVdqAn2ziB6g2bxZemo6aDfCMs3WjbIn8spv2PN-L08bESQ/s320/qualityoftreatment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We expressed our disappointment at why we had to resort to complaining to PALS to get heard for speeding up our treatment procedure or reporting our upset with our medical team. A member voiced their concern about a macmillan nurse who was not only unhelpful but said, “ I’ve never known or helped anyone as young as you with a diagnosis like this and I don’t know what to advise”. In a situation where fear dominates, the psychological ramifications of such responses can only run high.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We understand and acknowledge that breast cancer is a malicious and deceptive disease. Therefore, early scrutiny of signs is key to diagnosis and saving lives. Irrespective of what we experience, we put our trust in our medical team whom we believe will do the best for us. Breast cancer is also not an older woman’s disease, it can happen to anyone at any age. For younger women we believe there needs to be better education and vigilance on part of the medical team, for example discharge from the breast can be a sign of breast cancer but for a mum who’s just finished breast feeding this can be a benign symptom. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One member said it felt like a ‘geographical lottery for some’. There were many of us who believed that we’d had the best treatment possible, and that we were so grateful to our medical team for it. We had good accounts of attentive surgeons, oncologists and breast cancer nurses who looked out for us, who held our hands and who comforted us. Having said this, a large proportion did not have this experience. Those of us with better treatment regimens felt angry that we had to consider ourselves lucky to have had a smoother journey through treatment. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you are a woman with a breast cancer diagnosis and would like to join our private support network please message us here and we will get back to you. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXDgmPANXgtd76uCVD_y0GRZ6Wz5OzSvtCrKRsBewx2672_EYfE40zdsjaSW5Aa6uCeUZsE2SSvSp83xCZbaTk8OKa_3wTqb0t8OZCQva_DWKr3e2x-mgdCHGDETD5uzk5cHsFiwobKk83qsGnxF9VvJoBKCS90gk7zPngQTyQ32b6i_fZ-OgwqqGwLpekaLTY&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#breastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/secondarybreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXDgmPANXgtd76uCVD_y0GRZ6Wz5OzSvtCrKRsBewx2672_EYfE40zdsjaSW5Aa6uCeUZsE2SSvSp83xCZbaTk8OKa_3wTqb0t8OZCQva_DWKr3e2x-mgdCHGDETD5uzk5cHsFiwobKk83qsGnxF9VvJoBKCS90gk7zPngQTyQ32b6i_fZ-OgwqqGwLpekaLTY&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#secondarybreastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/diagnosis?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXDgmPANXgtd76uCVD_y0GRZ6Wz5OzSvtCrKRsBewx2672_EYfE40zdsjaSW5Aa6uCeUZsE2SSvSp83xCZbaTk8OKa_3wTqb0t8OZCQva_DWKr3e2x-mgdCHGDETD5uzk5cHsFiwobKk83qsGnxF9VvJoBKCS90gk7zPngQTyQ32b6i_fZ-OgwqqGwLpekaLTY&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#diagnosis</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/treatment?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXDgmPANXgtd76uCVD_y0GRZ6Wz5OzSvtCrKRsBewx2672_EYfE40zdsjaSW5Aa6uCeUZsE2SSvSp83xCZbaTk8OKa_3wTqb0t8OZCQva_DWKr3e2x-mgdCHGDETD5uzk5cHsFiwobKk83qsGnxF9VvJoBKCS90gk7zPngQTyQ32b6i_fZ-OgwqqGwLpekaLTY&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#treatment</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/resilience?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXDgmPANXgtd76uCVD_y0GRZ6Wz5OzSvtCrKRsBewx2672_EYfE40zdsjaSW5Aa6uCeUZsE2SSvSp83xCZbaTk8OKa_3wTqb0t8OZCQva_DWKr3e2x-mgdCHGDETD5uzk5cHsFiwobKk83qsGnxF9VvJoBKCS90gk7zPngQTyQ32b6i_fZ-OgwqqGwLpekaLTY&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#resilience</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/mentalhealth?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXDgmPANXgtd76uCVD_y0GRZ6Wz5OzSvtCrKRsBewx2672_EYfE40zdsjaSW5Aa6uCeUZsE2SSvSp83xCZbaTk8OKa_3wTqb0t8OZCQva_DWKr3e2x-mgdCHGDETD5uzk5cHsFiwobKk83qsGnxF9VvJoBKCS90gk7zPngQTyQ32b6i_fZ-OgwqqGwLpekaLTY&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#mentalhealth</span></a></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-6991145022491481872021-03-05T16:32:00.003+00:002024-02-12T12:11:31.371+00:00Hope and what it means to us to be hopeful: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Hope gives us the gift of enjoying life”</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A recent Sunday discussion centred around hope and what it meant to us. Hope was felt to be an essential part of life. Without hope, there is despair. One of our members shared the beautiful quote above, written by her father - “Hope gives us the gift of enjoying life”. Hope helps us find the way out of darkness. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Naz introduced the topic by telling us that hope is linked to resilience - hope allowed us to bounce back from difficult times. When we are faced with the diagnosis of cancer, our hope is shattered, especially for those of us told we have secondary breast cancer where cure is no longer possible. Facing such shattering news sometimes made us feel that it was hard to be hopeful. One member described the sensation of needing to “dig deep” to be able to be hopeful for the future. Many of our members told us that it was difficult to hope for long term goals or were worried that by doing so, they would be faced with disappointment. It was almost universal that it was easier to feel hopeful about short term expectations and by living in the moment. Sometimes it was difficult to be hopeful, especially when faced with overwhelming events and mental health difficulties. Naz explained in her introduction that we may need a time of hopelessness to find hope and resilience - one of our members called this as seeing “glimmers of light to sparkle hope”. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB1VwV6fXqO6E_P77_08GHuQVtVHmzJ4idOYQHBPzjPqQlG91onrnMZiGtFF3lKZp6ClfHxhCTnSr4JdPQLDYYH3m_jHYLdpGUcBk-X7EyzmIBF4ykH_MPVCDX-ULzG4q7Y3L6E0i6X4q/s1592/hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB1VwV6fXqO6E_P77_08GHuQVtVHmzJ4idOYQHBPzjPqQlG91onrnMZiGtFF3lKZp6ClfHxhCTnSr4JdPQLDYYH3m_jHYLdpGUcBk-X7EyzmIBF4ykH_MPVCDX-ULzG4q7Y3L6E0i6X4q/s320/hope.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of our members had experienced taking part in a “Hope Course” through their local cancer service or through a charity - the majority of our members found these unhelpful - they felt that hope is such a personal experience which cannot be taught. Some felt that terminology around hope was difficult. One member heard the term “no-hoper” being used to describe a woman who had died from her cancer. Acronyms such as “HOPE - having only positive experiences” were disliked. More helpful were the kind word and support from family and friends, including those in private groups such as BRiC. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What do we hope for? We hope that our future will be OK and that we stay well. We hope our cancer will not return or that it will not worsen. We hope our families and friends will stay with us when things are hard. We hope for new drugs and new breakthroughs for treatments. We hope our next scan will be good. We hope to see our children achieve their milestones and we hope to see all the seasons again. We also hope that our families remain healthy, that the Covid vaccines work and that life will return to some level of normal again. We hope that the time will come when we can be with our friends and families again. As one of our members told us “We hope to find the joy in every day”.</span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-14441101512793515492021-02-07T09:43:00.001+00:002024-02-11T18:10:37.191+00:00How we feel about virtual appointments, Do we feel safer or forgotten? BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A recent Sunday discussion was all about virtual and remote appointments, how we feel about them and how to get the best from them. A very pertinent topic at the moment, suggested by one of our members, who asked “Do we feel safer or forgotten?”</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the first points which became clear was that we felt we need to be more assertive than usual in order to ensure we are understood, that our concerns are taken seriously and that our questions are answered. It was mentioned that a lack of confidence could hinder this and leave us feeling ignored.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many people suggested writing things down before the appointment; having another person in the room to take notes and remembering to ask for things to be repeated if needed. This was a problem often encountered by our members with hearing loss, a telephone call can be particularly difficult without the benefit of lip reading or seeing facial expressions. But the advent of the many video-call options has proved beneficial in alleviating this issue. In the current climate we generally have to attend appointments alone, without what is often a vital support, so being able to have someone with us during an online or telephone consultation can be a real positive of the “virtual appointment”.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our experiences of online and remote consultation varied widely; many felt they were more prepared, having spent time prior to the appointment thinking about their expectations and needs. For GP “visits” filling out an online form before a telephone call often helps us focus on what exactly we want to discuss. Although some of us find the “tsunami” of questions on the forms overwhelming. For those of us who are at the early stages of diagnosis and treatment, the telephone or online consultations are not necessarily ideal, although often easier if we are further down that line. A common theme was a feeling that it was easier to discuss things openly because of a perceived distance between ourselves and the person at the other end of the call. Lots of our members access counselling, which has mainly now moved to remote sessions; for some this offers a whole new way of looking at things, enabling them to feel freer to discuss issues they perhaps found it hard to talk about face-to-face. Sadly, for others, the lack of face-to-face interaction left them feeling like the sessions were of little use.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJlnU65oabKT5ElE_HucfeiriciOcP8E_0f7DHtWeSX3Xb9ncqcpLzoac2AMBHD_Ftt1dX1Wz_uoQ-ZnBQfG0eA9LOczDsiLvUKRksa9HNLKiitSdKOfQ8Fk7yl1-GVQ_lW0g24xlMl0I/s1227/virtualappts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJlnU65oabKT5ElE_HucfeiriciOcP8E_0f7DHtWeSX3Xb9ncqcpLzoac2AMBHD_Ftt1dX1Wz_uoQ-ZnBQfG0eA9LOczDsiLvUKRksa9HNLKiitSdKOfQ8Fk7yl1-GVQ_lW0g24xlMl0I/s320/virtualappts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the things which came up many times was the convenience of not having to travel, of avoiding busy hospitals and waiting rooms, public transport and of course the weather. Some of our members miss going to appointments, especially during lock-down when just getting out of the house can be a treat, even for the most mundane of reasons.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having to chase doctors and be persistent is important, requesting follow-up calls and results and the amplification of our old friend “scanxiety” was often mentioned; but a positive outcome of the increase in online communication means that for some of us results are emailed much more quickly than when we had to wait for the next face to face appointment. One member only got a much needed appointment after breaking down in tears on the ‘phone; another said she thought she only got her appointment because she lost her temper – we are all under a great deal of stress from our cancer diagnosis, this is amplified by the current restrictions and tempers can be frayed. However, many members noted that they were aware of the exceptional pressure on the NHS and the knock-on effects it is having across the service. Concerns were raised in our group for the safety and well-being of the NHS staff, for their own mental health having worked through this crisis. There was vast praise for the teams who have adapted their systems and done everything in their power to keep our treatments and appointments running. It’s true things haven’t always run smoothly, for some people there have been delays and missed appointments, some will always prefer to see their practitioners face-to-face. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was suggested that we, as members on an online support group, have an advantage in being familiar with IT and the capabilities of the internet, but perhaps for others it might be a huge challenge to access a video call. For those with sight or hearing loss, or a lack of confidence, preparing for and negotiating a video or telephone consultation could be stressful and upsetting. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The main advice which came from our discussion was that in dealing with this ever-changing system we need to prepare; write down our questions, think about our expectations, ask for things to be repeated or sent in a letter afterwards, have someone with us for support and try not to allow ourselves to be rushed through a consultation. It is also worth remembering some of the more positive outcomes, less travel and less time wasted in waiting rooms for example. For some, telephone and online consultations are too impersonal and will never replace face-to-face visits, particularly if a physical examination is needed. There was an underlying fear that we may never go back to the old way of visiting the doctor and a general agreement that sometimes, we need that personal interaction more than the convenience of a call. But we also agreed that with good preparation a virtual appointment can work well.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-19192756735306030892021-01-02T21:23:00.000+00:002024-02-11T18:11:44.342+00:00"Why I am not breast cancer free." Reflections of BRiC's founder on her 8th cancer anniversary<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eight years ago, today, at around 7pm, after a stressful afternoon of tests I made my way to the hospital exit, when a nurse’s voice running behind me brought me back to my ‘to-be’ surgeon’s room. The notes on the desk gave it away: three grade 2 tumours, 9 cm of grade 3 DCIS, and lymph node involved. My brain turned numb to ask my surgeon ‘why’, but the remains of that day play clearly in my vision, with my then 2 year old daughter’s face lighting up as I got back home. My late mum cooking a lovely meal. It is amazing how the brain can switch between different emotions to protect us and to help us make sense of our experiences. Shortly after, my brain went on a speed train trying to plan, but it kept getting stuck at different junctions.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Paradoxically, as I pictured the end of my life, I learned that cancer was giving me a different and new ‘life’. How can cancer give you a new ‘life’? It sounds like a contradiction in terms. But, its true. Cancer gives you a life many of my kind struggle with, but we try our best with gratitude and hard work. An exhausting life with challenges we are encouraged to take, quality-of-life limiting changes we have little choice but to adapt to, and the despair because we are too emotionally and physically exhausted to sustain the roller coasters. In short, a life with a foundation built on the psychological and physical costs of cancer diagnosis and treatment.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Adapting successfully to the life changing experiences of breast cancer does not make it OK for breast cancer to exist. It is not OK for a woman to be diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes in the UK. It is not OK for 30% of them to get secondary breast cancer with an average lifeline of 3 years and a quality of life fuelled with endless toxic treatments that eventually stop working. It is disgraceful and a real threat.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiOz5o-_F5-hh1DdJeZBEa5XzTmSd0zd_MlHCVUqqKyD_6ML8y-biOWw5M0g8yvQU1jFVdWAIB6khGdh5Vx6pJNNTFxH05FdT_Boz6riLAzk23qYjNxMsURirmj7ZbyJjXgWODSjuc73p/s1000/diving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiOz5o-_F5-hh1DdJeZBEa5XzTmSd0zd_MlHCVUqqKyD_6ML8y-biOWw5M0g8yvQU1jFVdWAIB6khGdh5Vx6pJNNTFxH05FdT_Boz6riLAzk23qYjNxMsURirmj7ZbyJjXgWODSjuc73p/s320/diving.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Resilience is more than accepting and adapting to life limiting changes that breast cancer imposes on us. It is about growth and planting new seeds and nourishing them amid the changes we continue to adapt to. Breast cancer takes away control and this can be frightening because it can come back and haunt us again. Resilience teaches us that we can embrace this fear and it is important that we do not simply GIVE UP, but thrive the roller coaster with the highs and the lows. This, I have learned from many of my friends with secondary breast cancer whose control is much more limited than mine.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whatever the circumstances, we take our cancer forward with us. This doesn’t mean that it can take over our thoughts and what we do. It has its place. An important place because it is from this place, from this platform, that we can rise to our best.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is why. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am not breast cancer free." </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Naz </span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-897461742165427852020-12-31T11:06:00.001+00:002024-02-11T18:11:55.500+00:00Winter lockdown tips: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">‘Please let there be light.’</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our heartfelt request to see us through the winter months of lockdown is sunshine. We shared tips for not only surviving but thriving during these winter months when we are restricted in our activities. Everyone who is well enough to get outside agreed that a walk in the fresh air is the best way to keep our spirits up, even better in daylight but for those working who may not be able to get out during the day, then an evening walk is also beneficial. Sunshine can activate parts of the brain that bring us pleasure, and so we grab it when we can. In these days when we can’t plan or look forward to things - in fact we are more likely to have plans scuppered at short notice as the rules fluctuate - we must seize the day and make the best of what we can do. Constant disappointment does get us down, our brains are tired from dealing with our cancer and the additional uncertainty that covid brings, and we can easily feel low and unmotivated.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of us are sorely missing our friends, family, activities and freedom. For those who like to plan, having a routine and structure to the day may be helpful, even if we're at home for the day e.g.scheduling in exercise, planning what we're going to cook for dinner, deciding when we're going to take our walk depending on the weather forecast. Goal-setting is useful, short or long term. Many have taken the opportunity to learn new skills, perhaps new craft activities, a musical instrument, painting, calligraphy. Leisure activities at home have brought joy, and we’re making the most of music, television, DIY and board-games. We incorporate exercise, mindfulness or meditation into our day, taking advantage of online classes and courses. We are reading and writing, challenging ourselves with puzzles, dancing and phoning and zooming family and friends. We are cooking new recipes, baking bread and cakes, and sometimes sharing our products with others which brings additional pleasure. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvMmXZ1No5ldyTulZ_tmk2heVcaHP_xU6rFekVqxybBndlKHc9XGZtWJ_Di10CcZ8g9FkGywLcEKU6PAEUoWzyaT62sGs2PmDM_dRaJFDFE-0sTJyIA99jnOxNVEdrV7-SrA_IlMZ3w2E/s1024/winter+lockdown+tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvMmXZ1No5ldyTulZ_tmk2heVcaHP_xU6rFekVqxybBndlKHc9XGZtWJ_Di10CcZ8g9FkGywLcEKU6PAEUoWzyaT62sGs2PmDM_dRaJFDFE-0sTJyIA99jnOxNVEdrV7-SrA_IlMZ3w2E/s320/winter+lockdown+tips.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The lockdown rollercoaster that everyone is living with has many parallels with the rollercoaster that is cancer treatment, where we wait for scan results and make a few short term plans where we can. This is especially true when we have secondary breast cancer, when treatment is ongoing and scans and tests become a regular part of our lives. We live from one to the next, hoping for good news, adapting to bad news. ‘Entirely exhausting but end up looking out for little things’ as one member put it. We may be missing activities and people, but we make small plans and live for the moment, making sure that we don’t just fritter our time away or end up ‘slumped with no idea of what next.’</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of us find our work rewarding and a distraction, though for those working close up to Covid or in different conditions (e.g. working from home) work may be more challenging and stressful than usual. Making sure we get a break from work which includes getting outside is a useful goal to aim for. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Getting closer to nature is a bonus for many of us, and a simple exercise was suggested by one member: sky watching. It can be done from indoors if the weather isn’t good or you’re not feeling up to going out, perhaps with the window open to get the benefits of fresh air. ‘It’s an opportunity to stop, pause and notice the wonder of the sky.’ It can be done anytime, start with five minutes, and just notice the clouds or the stars. It can be very soothing. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Asking for help may also be key to getting through, as we strive to be more honest and authentic in our day-to-day life. One member described how she made a list of things she wanted for Christmas, not just gifts but activities too, and how she bought some items ready made rather than making it all from scratch. She also handed out tea-towels for family members to dry up with. Many of us are practising accepting and making the best of limitations, whether that’s relating to our own physical or mental capability or the restrictions the covid rules put on us. We acknowledge that we are sad about the things we miss, and then we move through these feelings and find ways to be kind to ourselves. If we can’t concentrate to read, we might listen to audio books instead, for example. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of us are treasuring the extra time and space that lockdown is providing. Looking at lockdown as a chance to take stock and knowing that although we don’t know how or when it will end, trusting that it will end, can be helpful. ‘Lockdown gave me time for me and I’ve finally realised I’m not selfish putting myself first.’ Not feeling guilty for looking after our own needs was a recurring theme for many of us. ‘Trying to be good to myself and doing something each day for me.’ </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-80752345507710093072020-12-23T12:40:00.002+00:002024-02-12T12:16:07.445+00:00What does Quality of Life mean to you? BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">What does quality of life mean to you?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">The topic for this Sunday night’s discussion suggested by one of our lovely admin’s, Bal Nanray, focused on the question, ‘What does quality of life mean to you?’ Naz led us into the topic by contexualising this discussion from a research perspective as we explored our thoughts and opinions on the topic:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">“In research, quality of life is one of the key outcome measures that is used to assess the psychological well-being of individuals.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">There is a shared understanding that for many of us, quality of life diminishes following a breast cancer diagnosis as we try to navigate our way through surgery and subsequent treatment regimes where long term exposure to cancer treatment affects us physically, emotionally and mentally. Although we have all experienced a breast cancer diagnosis, we know that this affects each of us differently and, in the same way, quality of life means different things to each of us. However, there were many shared views on quality of life that were woven into our discussion.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Many of us felt that quality of life centred on our ability to be physically and mentally well enough to be able to do the things in which we find pleasure. It was noted that often, these are the things that we took for granted prior to our diagnosis of breast cancer, leading to feelings of gratitude for the things that we can do and take joy from. This included a range of things that we enjoy as individuals, including having a level of cognitive functioning and concentration to allow us to read literature. Being able to get outdoors and close to nature rated highly on our list of things that contribute to our quality of life.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvoVUmSppa8co4JA3K22VBKKsxAtaW4qWQbI2WSuxfPsOGEoGqVFLgSPYhiIK6l_S0ClKK6bLCmOaTcf0CEU1IVfsOWWqv7KHFHB8r3w_kLjb-p7yJQNut4DzWCh1uevI1p_K344atpDM/s1024/QoL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvoVUmSppa8co4JA3K22VBKKsxAtaW4qWQbI2WSuxfPsOGEoGqVFLgSPYhiIK6l_S0ClKK6bLCmOaTcf0CEU1IVfsOWWqv7KHFHB8r3w_kLjb-p7yJQNut4DzWCh1uevI1p_K344atpDM/w258-h320/QoL.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">For some us of us, hard decisions have had to be made about continuing with breast cancer drug treatment as we have been forced to weigh up the limitations and physical burdens that this poses for our quality of life.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Being able to improve the quality of life for others was another discussion point linked to individuals’ feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. As one of our members expressed, the extent to which she can feel ‘useful, helpful and make a contribution to our local community’ was a really important part of their overall view of quality of life.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Having a dog in the family brings great happiness to several of our members and is another way in which quality of life is enhanced for them. A sense of purpose has a huge impact on our lives, as does being involved in activities that help to contribute to finding inner peace and calm.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">For all of us, the COVID pandemic has highlighted the detrimental impact of loss of freedom and choice, both fundamental things that are required to achieve quality of life. Having aspects of our lives severely affected by this virus serves to illustrate that without freedom and choice the quality of our lives is so much less. As women living with and beyond a breast cancer diagnosis, we recognise that it has forced us to look at our lives in microscopic detail. Part of this is cultivating our ability to say ‘no’, to free our time to do things that contribute towards our wellbeing.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">The view that quality of life in many ways overrides quantity of life is a strong feeling amongst our group, vocalised in this very safe place that we share. Evermore so following a breast cancer diagnosis, we value our independence and ability to participate in things that we hold dear.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">We each have our thoughts and ideas about what quality of life means to us. As is usual in our Sunday night discussions, we have been able to share with one another and explore a hugely important topic. Quality of life is everything. Each of us understands its relevance to our lives.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Thank you to everybody who was able to contribute to our quality of life conversation.</span></span><p></p>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-44137178356729207872020-12-20T10:34:00.002+00:002024-02-11T18:12:27.540+00:00Our favourite books: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Books and books’’ Our Favourites!</span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This week our Sunday discussion was about books, our favourite ones and how they may have shaped us as human beings.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Naz explained that as an academic, she reads books that are more about research than she reads widely about the ‘real’ world!</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For many of our members, when we read it helps us relax, and provides a sense of release from negative thoughts, or a bit of pure escapism.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of our members found reading can actually make us feel motivated and a sense of happiness.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of our members found reading difficult/challenging after a breast cancer diagnosis, due to the traumatic experience of treatment and our ability to concentrate which declines, so therefore some members have turned instead to audio books as an alternative.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We feel as if the books draw us in, trying to make us a part of the storyline. Whenever we read a book, the world vanishes and nothing else matters other than the tiny bundle of pages in our hand.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_RczmHZcOZ9_gPsQ00sIzvqGo5AQx3emKFC9JqgaJDsEv9vPURwnlaejFFsPAmM3glpsAfa4Q8EPmh3wXP2tH3uXPcdyBTOrT1K6coe-M6yyPBzy9Blbax6uaQxfn7jiYr87GFVdQ4xJ/s960/bookscloud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_RczmHZcOZ9_gPsQ00sIzvqGo5AQx3emKFC9JqgaJDsEv9vPURwnlaejFFsPAmM3glpsAfa4Q8EPmh3wXP2tH3uXPcdyBTOrT1K6coe-M6yyPBzy9Blbax6uaQxfn7jiYr87GFVdQ4xJ/s320/bookscloud.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It’s like an addiction, and its touch makes us feel inspired.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The mere presence of a book in our hands brings a mixture of emotions; laughter, sadness, excitement, inspiration, feeling loved and many more different emotions that we experience.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of our members have fond memories of their childhood books and how magical they made us feel and the written word can be so powerful and speak right to our soul.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of our members even named her granddaughter after a book that she enjoyed so much!</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Certain books had the most profound affect which resonated with some members who have experienced and suffered child abuse at the hands of their parent and now instinctively understood the behaviours were wrong and how manipulation can be the cause of us in believing that it’s your fault as a child. But after reading particular books we realise the ugly truth about them and suddenly don’t feel so alone and isolated and choose not to repeat the cycle of cruelty and become an empath instead.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of our members enjoyed reading books when they were going through treatment and how moved and inspired they felt and it wasn’t all depressing, in a way, helped make sense of many things that we are feeling at the time, can also be very thought provoking when couples don’t communicate enough when we have had breast cancer and constant injunctions to be positive.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of our members have been influenced by books and found them therapeutic before/after breast cancer.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A list of our most loved books, handpicked by our members.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enjoy!</span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-79149890648646731372020-12-16T09:32:00.002+00:002024-02-11T18:12:47.794+00:00Three things with positive impact in 2020: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">“What three things have made a positive impact on you over 2020?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">In our discussion this week, we looked at things which happened or we did over 2020 which has a positive impact on our lives. By introduction, Naz spoke about how depression can be exacerbated by the disparity between where we are and where we want to be. We have spoken in the past about the “positivity coat” we are expected to wear and that this can make us feel we cannot live up to those expectations. This has been a really hard year for all and we accept that we have no control over many of the events of 2020 but we can seek out those diamonds which we call glimmers of hope in our group. Selectively focussing on positive moments whilst not downplaying the negative aspects is very healthy. With this in mind, we asked the question “What three things this year have you done or experienced which resulted in a positive impact”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">This was a lively discussion. There were themes which were cancer/health care related, work/education relates and personal/family related. Not surprisingly, very few of us found a cancer diagnosis or treatment a positive experience. Some did however feel grateful for the care they received from the NHS and that their treatment continued despite COVID-19.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Many of our member had positive changes to their employment whether it be returning to work after treatment, new roles, new jobs or even retirement. There was a feeling of satisfaction for some for a job well done. Some reported they had commenced or completed higher qualifications such as PhD or MSC.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">By far the greatest impact came from things we did or experienced with family and friends or at home. Many of us saw the time of lock down a chance to spend time with our partners and children and to have more communication with more distant family and friends using online meeting technology. We loved baking (no wonder there was a shortage of flour!), cooking, making jewellery and having time in our gardens - especially with a spell of lovely weather in spring and summer. Some took time to challenge themselves by taking up writing a book or taking on walking or running challenges. New skills were described too - meditation, Reiki or learning a foreign language. Some of us were lucky enough to have taken a short holiday when restrictions allowed. There were small pleasures too - one member was very pleased that her car passed its MOT!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #050505; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSrTUCug5l61qFPPPx35QNbnlphk59kVTcUrM_5ML1ZZgY6vY-r0JEWhXj_Kczeg9WpgAoJ887r4oGYWD-bcczpf_6boZj1EeZIPOAHymnlPnxk9YaIdgepT2PurOGecG9CeR4XPwRp0g/s700/rainbows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSrTUCug5l61qFPPPx35QNbnlphk59kVTcUrM_5ML1ZZgY6vY-r0JEWhXj_Kczeg9WpgAoJ887r4oGYWD-bcczpf_6boZj1EeZIPOAHymnlPnxk9YaIdgepT2PurOGecG9CeR4XPwRp0g/s320/rainbows.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">There were joyful events too - new babies in the family, engagement, weddings and new homes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">There was pride in the achievements of our family and friends; our children passed exams, gaining university places. We were full of admiration at how resilient our partners and children are when facing up to the challenges of this year including our cancer. There was also pride in helping out, such as setting up a regular quiz night or volunteering with the NHS.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Finally, we were grateful for the peer support within this group. The support of our members is invaluable.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><p></p>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-67934189049141342962020-12-03T09:54:00.004+00:002024-02-12T12:20:33.110+00:00Chemotherapy effects and tips: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A recent Sunday discussion focused on chemotherapy, how we prepare for it, how we deal with it and how it affects us. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Naz explained that along with the physical side effects, research shows that cognitive function can be impaired by chemotherapy and many of our members related experience of “brain fog”, often lasting long after chemo has ended. Cognitive impairment can also be caused by the emotional and psychological effects of a breast cancer diagnosis; and made worse by the ongoing treatment many of us face. Some of us who escaped chemotherapy still recalled a feeling of “chemo brain”. There is hope, as shown in some of BRiC’s research, that we can improve our neural networks with specific training. But chemo-brain is just one of the many side effects we discussed, along with hints and tips on how to cope with chemotherapy, and some of the things we wish we’d known before it started.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For many of our members chemotherapy was the hardest part of their treatment. We recounted tales of horrific mouth ulcers, of sickness, utter exhaustion, diarrhoea, unbelievable constipation, of the well-known hair loss – but why didn’t anyone ever tell us that it would actually hurt when the hair fell out? We talked about broken or lost finger and toe nails, of veins ruined by repeated treatments, of a loss or change in taste and smell (the distinctive smell of the chemo unit, something few can ever forget) and of going off foods and drinks we used to love; there were cases of sepsis and hospital admissions, of chemo induced heart problems and diabetes, weight gain or loss, skin rashes and irritations, eyes and noses that dripped like leaky taps, neuropathy and joint pain, which for many lasts years after chemo. There were headaches and mood swings, there was fear and loneliness, and so many more side effects that can debilitate even the fittest and most determined of us.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lots of us coped with chemo by reminding ourselves that the benefits would outweigh the side effects and that “it’s just four more treatments” or “it’s just two more treatments”. Having that light at the end of the tunnel gave us hope and strength to carry on. Our members with secondary breast cancer don’t have that luxury. There is no end to treatment; they may be facing many years of chemo side effects and just thinking about that prospect is in itself exhausting.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5CrqFw9I9raIg2npkib1naPRfeWTMdiJPkXkwm4407NHp3GagidbC4OT1ZJVucWiMm06nJ33y9zRg27oTDUliwFH0IoEdPSiZe39gx0Ig2hYw95hr-O3HC8Ldwf1WaxhNS3KUKjCNiKE/s1100/chemotherapy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5CrqFw9I9raIg2npkib1naPRfeWTMdiJPkXkwm4407NHp3GagidbC4OT1ZJVucWiMm06nJ33y9zRg27oTDUliwFH0IoEdPSiZe39gx0Ig2hYw95hr-O3HC8Ldwf1WaxhNS3KUKjCNiKE/s320/chemotherapy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our members’ experiences of preparing for chemo varied, with some having lots of information ahead of treatment, honest answers to questions about side effects and good advice on how to treat them. Others were given a leaflet and told to expect hair loss and sickness, but not much else. We all agreed that having the right information prior to starting helps. We wanted to be told what to expect.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You will probably think you are dying at least once.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You will tell yourself you just can’t do another treatment.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You will consider stopping chemo to get some relief.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You will have days where you cannot get out of bed.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You might be a lucky one who suffers very little.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You will probably put on a brave face and people will tell you how well you are doing, even though you don’t feel it – and you will probably get fed up with people telling you your head is a lovely shape and it suits you having no hair!</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You will sit up all night in a chemo/steroid induced insomnia. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Members commented that having the BRiC private group was a tremendous help, knowing there would be someone else up in the middle of the night to chat to, knowing there was someone else who’d had the exact same side effect and might know the best way to deal with it, and just knowing that you aren’t alone in what you are going through.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many of us say we went into some kind of superwoman mode, some had no choice but to continue to work, we often tried to carry on as normal to shield our families from just how bad we really felt. Some of us discovered that trying to be superwoman was not such a good idea, as partners, colleagues and friends didn’t understand how gruelling the treatment really was and as a result had little sympathy when we needed to rest. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Along with practical ideas, like stocking up on ice lollies, laxatives, tasty food, comfy clothes, soft hats (who knew how cold a bald head can be?!), flip flops in case of sore toes, something to do/read during infusions which can take a long time - we often just wanted someone who could sit and listen, hold our hand and not expect anything from us, someone who would do the chores without being asked, who would entertain the children while we rested or bring us our favourite treat.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We did have some members who sailed through chemo with few of the nasty effects and without fail they said they felt extremely lucky. Chemotherapy kills billions of good cells in order to get at the cancerous ones, the overwhelming feeling was that chemo is a special kind of hell, a necessary evil, a war zone, something that isn’t “over” the minute you walk out of your final treatment, and something that not all hospitals prepare us for properly. Knowledge is power and knowing what to expect can help, even if it’s just in a small way.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-6831068537814887422020-11-17T09:07:00.003+00:002024-02-12T12:06:07.657+00:00Impact of breast cancer on our nearest and dearest: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The impact on my family and parents when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 was enormous.”</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our Sunday discussion discussed how breast cancer has affected our loved ones, our dearest and nearest.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were not surprised that our discussion raised many mixed and diverse experiences when it came to how our cancer had affected our family, our friends, and our children. One thing was certain though: that the emotional toll is there for them too.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Husbands/partners were thought of being excellent with the practical side of things. Some of us talked about how good they were with the housekeeping, hospital appointments and shifting work to be present with us during treatment and so on. Equally though, this dissipated with time, such that as time moved on they had had enough and believed that we should be cured, that they were ‘tired of doing everything’, and that we were lazy. Others not so much, they continued to worry about us, they continued to be our rock. It was agreed that the emotional stuff was harder for them to deal with, and their reluctance to talk and open up, made it harder for them to cope. We heard about depression and suicidal attempts, we also heard about partners leaving and shutting us out.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Telling our children and adjusting what we say and how we communicate, considering their age and disabilities, can be really hard. Our sons, compared with our daughters, some reported, found it harder to digest, but this eased with time. Our children were very instrumental in helping, they took charge, found information, encouraged us. But we also heard that children got bullied at school because of us, and they were uncomfortable to be seen with us in public.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of us reported that our children found it hard to talk, to cry, to express their emotions. We can spot the fear in them even when they try to hide it. We get asked if we will die or live with the slightest illness we experience. We make efforts to be honest to the best of our ability so that we can protect them, to look after them, and to nourish them, even so, some break down and need counselling. It helped if our children had friends they could confide in. For some, they have always seen us as a cancer patient, as they were newborns when we were diagnosed.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM5znAW-EeRdN5TQ4JwN3WQoCgIYRsfhw9F4JshBWKORr3oVNNVR6srK7NsW3GvEWfanVNArVJW2IiGvHNuLMh7rFTvQ2prmhiRZzF-flsOubfpjGr-Z8qxxmm17DgzvD7C6LFUj1oCZL/s980/familycancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="980" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM5znAW-EeRdN5TQ4JwN3WQoCgIYRsfhw9F4JshBWKORr3oVNNVR6srK7NsW3GvEWfanVNArVJW2IiGvHNuLMh7rFTvQ2prmhiRZzF-flsOubfpjGr-Z8qxxmm17DgzvD7C6LFUj1oCZL/s320/familycancer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It can be very hard to talk about our cancer to our parents, especially if they are elderly. In fact we’ve avoided it if they are fragile or suffer from their own vulnerability. For some of us, our mums saw us through treatment, for others our parents abandoned us, either finding it too hard to deal with, and not wanting to discuss it. Because of this belittling effect, some found it easier to distance themselves from their parents. For many, our immediate family did not want to hear that our cancer is ‘ongoing’. Sisters and brothers are important, but again we spoke about how some had abandoned us and/or were not interested in supporting us. The opposite was true as well, with many reporting that their siblings were there in the thick and thin of it.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We acknowledged that for those of us with secondary breast cancer, it can be harder to communicate as pressures can run high for our immediate family. Some of us talked about how writing through our blogs can help them understand how we can be supported.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were equally grateful for friends who travelled long distances to visit and support us, pleasantly surprising us with kind gestures. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our members were grateful for having found BRiC: their BRiC family is who they go to. Moving forward courses and other support groups are valuable too. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We concluded that just as much as we need emotional support, our partners, our children and our immediate family need educating and emotional support so that they can care for themselves and us, cope better as well as know how to support us better. They can be better prepared for us and our needs and consequently they can feel stronger in supporting us, and not abandoning us. Hopefully research will emphasise this important point so that we can provide better support for our families.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-12602708313915447002020-11-08T10:53:00.006+00:002024-02-11T18:14:19.311+00:00Coping in Lockdown #2: BRiC's Collective Voice<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">The topic put forward by Naz for last Sunday night's discussion was: How are we feeling about the new lockdown?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Our responses and feelings varied for a number of reasons, not least of which was related to where we are based in the UK. Some of us who live in Tier 3 areas, and those of us living in areas where very tight restrictions have been in place for several months now, felt that not much was going to change. Some of us felt safer at the prospect of another lockdown, whilst acknowledging and showing compassion for those people, many of our own families included, who’ll experience financial struggles and job losses because of it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">There was a shared sense of sadness and frustration for all kinds of different personal circumstances. Striking a balance between acceptance, that this is happening again, and our understanding of why it’s happening feels hard for many of us. Feelings of apprehension, fear and loneliness are very real as some of us look ahead to the next four weeks with a feeling of gloom, not helped by the time of the year. A shorter and darker day with colder weather is quite different from the lockdown climate that we experienced the first time around.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Overwhelm and struggle was expressed by many of us, as was the need for a period of grieving and adjustment in this second round of lockdown as those living with secondary breast cancer consider the prospect of this virus being around for the whole of the remaining time that we have left. The sense of loss associated with COVID-19 eating into our time and cutting short the time of those whose lives have been taken by the virus was very much felt. Within our group, in the last few months, we’ve experienced tragic personal loss due to family members and loved ones dying from the virus and other conditions. We have barely had the chance to grieve for those who have died during the first lockdown and now we face the challenge of another.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br /><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgMAnfLtaLIi0L-3ukSQzixYSrgPHIABRLLSvBYI0NuFl4C1yjxRD20tayC1u6IMxMZ5WeNStti97ERqnsK-9LwL02GJcxW-0fNjqq3wgNe4DKstxEBdVRejqQ5IPfuawuW7vanlV-cug/s1964/lockdown2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1964" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgMAnfLtaLIi0L-3ukSQzixYSrgPHIABRLLSvBYI0NuFl4C1yjxRD20tayC1u6IMxMZ5WeNStti97ERqnsK-9LwL02GJcxW-0fNjqq3wgNe4DKstxEBdVRejqQ5IPfuawuW7vanlV-cug/s320/lockdown2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The detrimental impact on our mental health and of our loved ones is hugely concerning which has caused lots of tears to be shed but amongst the tears, the care and support for one another in BRiC is palpable. Encouragement, care, love and support is an important part of our group. There are many of us who feel very anxious and vulnerable and who are trying to appear strong for our families. A key message within the discussion was a reminder about kindness and self-compassion. Trying to remember to be gentle towards our feelings is an important part of coping during the next month. Part of that is acknowledging how selfish behaviour from others causes us to feel angry and upset. Worries and grave concerns for family members who are experiencing serious deterioration and decline in the coming weeks sits heavily upon us too, as the prospect of being unable to spend time with them is a reality that feels so devastating.<br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Trying to find a balance between the loss that COVID has created and gratitude for what we still have is challenging. Finding space in our minds to let these “conflicting emotions co-exist” is hard. The Diwali festival in a couple of weeks' time, a 50th milestone birthday at the end of the month and other family birthdays are just some of the special celebrations that will have a very different feel and tone to them because of this lockdown.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Whatever challenges we face in the next few weeks, our shared support for one another will help to ease our feelings of loss, burden and sadness. Ideas for self-care strategies, tips for supporting our wellbeing and things to help bolster our mental resilience helped to make the mood of our discussion a little lighter. Whilst ongoing uncertainty lies ahead we will continue to shine a light for us all in this special space.</span></span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" /><p></p><p><br /></p>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-60752971633951372762020-10-30T10:00:00.005+00:002024-02-11T18:15:29.653+00:00The amazing Vicky (late deputy head): BRiC for Breast Cancer Awareness<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We never tire of sharing the moving message Vicky Wilkes left for us all. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Vicky did so much for BRiC. She was one of the very first members and deputy head. She led our first few October projects and as we forge ahead with new ones each year, her voice is our guidance. Vicky died from secondary breast cancer on 20th August 2019. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'My relationship with cancer started in 2006 at age 31, but it was when I reached 40 that it got terribly serious and I knew my time here would be shorter than expected.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had imagined growing old surrounded by my family, seeing my children through their school years, into adulthood, getting married and having their own children. It hurts so much to know I won't get to see these milestones but more importantly that I won't be here for them when they deserve to have their mum there on the special days of their lives. How can I leave these two children without a mum? </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Each day is a gift and the only moment any of us really have is now. I don't want to go, I don't want to leave my family and friends, but I have no choice, I have done my best but it's out of my hands. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The one, worst, horrible, bad thing about this dying lark is that I have hated causing sadness. I really hope my children can be resilient and bounce back to be the amazing adults I think they can be.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBht8gMqhK_mlwKWXxiV7pYg1L_t5Erxtv5ZI1ldIZLEF3BduFYI5nwlipQRCUwVw7w0gd5L6rUhO9s_Hw3QN1WkqOSe6nOREaIiFo74dBXgMQxuai5lUe-qaYlfXmDCglS6z-WubUgGe/s721/Vicky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBht8gMqhK_mlwKWXxiV7pYg1L_t5Erxtv5ZI1ldIZLEF3BduFYI5nwlipQRCUwVw7w0gd5L6rUhO9s_Hw3QN1WkqOSe6nOREaIiFo74dBXgMQxuai5lUe-qaYlfXmDCglS6z-WubUgGe/s320/Vicky.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1WunDKesphUY4n3VpbWeMN9rjrkw5lh3ZroYmAu1iDuKShTgWIkv3kqFob0uzOyIZBPdnpKjNIKiyjnzR51DuD-tbE0gjyBZfbYunUgUm6GL12igcLD70jCnadFlRRkwTgSh5jdQ_3qE/s720/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1WunDKesphUY4n3VpbWeMN9rjrkw5lh3ZroYmAu1iDuKShTgWIkv3kqFob0uzOyIZBPdnpKjNIKiyjnzR51DuD-tbE0gjyBZfbYunUgUm6GL12igcLD70jCnadFlRRkwTgSh5jdQ_3qE/w185-h185/logo.jpg" width="185" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I look at life through different eyes. I wish people would stop sweating the small stuff and appreciate life and how truly amazing it is. It's ok to find something annoying but then you need to quickly get over it and be thankful it's a minor issue.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the great Stephen Hawking said.. "Remember to look up at the stars and not </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.” </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So when you do go outside and look at those stars in our universe, take a deep breath, appreciate your existence and that you are able to do these things.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Think about those things that happen to you, that you put a lot of weight into, but which are insignificant....no sleep, bad hair day, don't like how you look, got nothing to wear, house is a mess...just let all that shit go! My body is wrecked, my mind is wrecked, but I see even those things as pretty insignificant because what I really cared about was how long I had left here, would I see my next birthday, my children's birthdays, Christmas.... I needed to keep going, I needed another day with my family and friends and then I needed another and then another, I needed to be here.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Appreciate your body, embrace it but don't obsess over it and look after your mind, as that will look after you. Be grateful for the days when you are not dealing with anything serious and yes it's annoying but it will go away.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stop the stress of buying stuff you don't need, with money you don't have, to impress people you don't like!</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I learned from everyone who joined me on this precious ride that is life. I have laughed and cried with you and we are all part of each others lives which has helped shape the people we are! Thank you, all of you family, friends, nurses and doctors who did their best for me.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You've given me much support and pleasure. I'm glad to have known some of you for many years and just wish I had more time with others of you I've not known for so long.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For goodness sake people, enjoy life, take risks, be kind always, love, be curious about everything, look at the diversity of the world around you...it's incredible, travel, be a badass, smile, be gentle and forgive whenever you can. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thank you all, now go and toast life with more alcohol than is good for you on this occasion, laugh, smile and have an amazing time.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Much love and thanks!</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Peace out! X"</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Vicky </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: verdana; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancerawareness?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXx4-2QT6thcGyIarkme_D0MAZdKxXEGJsvCbJ3sdT_7zNNmoxfKNe0vAJPWDNqIEDhwN6WtXmSydYcer0tyNRgj9jhyc7f1yu0LqOPHl4A0UG-D0KaN_BewgcOSEUS0ZJEtjk7LkbBQiIN83JFaQdl15l50a2d_3xJhhbOQA5516gtcLYGt8hDi6eavYWrB9U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#BreastCancerAwareness</a></span></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/octoberbreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXx4-2QT6thcGyIarkme_D0MAZdKxXEGJsvCbJ3sdT_7zNNmoxfKNe0vAJPWDNqIEDhwN6WtXmSydYcer0tyNRgj9jhyc7f1yu0LqOPHl4A0UG-D0KaN_BewgcOSEUS0ZJEtjk7LkbBQiIN83JFaQdl15l50a2d_3xJhhbOQA5516gtcLYGt8hDi6eavYWrB9U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#octoberbreastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXx4-2QT6thcGyIarkme_D0MAZdKxXEGJsvCbJ3sdT_7zNNmoxfKNe0vAJPWDNqIEDhwN6WtXmSydYcer0tyNRgj9jhyc7f1yu0LqOPHl4A0UG-D0KaN_BewgcOSEUS0ZJEtjk7LkbBQiIN83JFaQdl15l50a2d_3xJhhbOQA5516gtcLYGt8hDi6eavYWrB9U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#breastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/bric?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXx4-2QT6thcGyIarkme_D0MAZdKxXEGJsvCbJ3sdT_7zNNmoxfKNe0vAJPWDNqIEDhwN6WtXmSydYcer0tyNRgj9jhyc7f1yu0LqOPHl4A0UG-D0KaN_BewgcOSEUS0ZJEtjk7LkbBQiIN83JFaQdl15l50a2d_3xJhhbOQA5516gtcLYGt8hDi6eavYWrB9U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#BRiC</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/secondarybreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXx4-2QT6thcGyIarkme_D0MAZdKxXEGJsvCbJ3sdT_7zNNmoxfKNe0vAJPWDNqIEDhwN6WtXmSydYcer0tyNRgj9jhyc7f1yu0LqOPHl4A0UG-D0KaN_BewgcOSEUS0ZJEtjk7LkbBQiIN83JFaQdl15l50a2d_3xJhhbOQA5516gtcLYGt8hDi6eavYWrB9U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#secondarybreastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/pinkoctober?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXx4-2QT6thcGyIarkme_D0MAZdKxXEGJsvCbJ3sdT_7zNNmoxfKNe0vAJPWDNqIEDhwN6WtXmSydYcer0tyNRgj9jhyc7f1yu0LqOPHl4A0UG-D0KaN_BewgcOSEUS0ZJEtjk7LkbBQiIN83JFaQdl15l50a2d_3xJhhbOQA5516gtcLYGt8hDi6eavYWrB9U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#pinkoctober</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancersurvivor?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXx4-2QT6thcGyIarkme_D0MAZdKxXEGJsvCbJ3sdT_7zNNmoxfKNe0vAJPWDNqIEDhwN6WtXmSydYcer0tyNRgj9jhyc7f1yu0LqOPHl4A0UG-D0KaN_BewgcOSEUS0ZJEtjk7LkbBQiIN83JFaQdl15l50a2d_3xJhhbOQA5516gtcLYGt8hDi6eavYWrB9U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#breastcancersurvivor</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/covidandbreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXx4-2QT6thcGyIarkme_D0MAZdKxXEGJsvCbJ3sdT_7zNNmoxfKNe0vAJPWDNqIEDhwN6WtXmSydYcer0tyNRgj9jhyc7f1yu0LqOPHl4A0UG-D0KaN_BewgcOSEUS0ZJEtjk7LkbBQiIN83JFaQdl15l50a2d_3xJhhbOQA5516gtcLYGt8hDi6eavYWrB9U&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#covidandbreastcancer</span></a></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-16145519300031902312020-10-27T09:31:00.000+00:002024-02-11T18:15:36.347+00:00Gina's story: BRiC for Breast Cancer Awareness<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: verdana; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I finished radiotherapy just as lockdown started, my oncology check up was a 30 second call to see if I was ok, there was a huge nothing, no support nothing, just news of other cancer patients not getting their chemo or radio this caused a lot of guilt in me, covid has meant not dealing with the emotional impact.</span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Va_dl_m5ggYJH6RnTPg_0z0b4-vdP-IU4mHbAvBXV1iSTLmggUa57zgUYHdQbb-tv0Tt09PWGX1NpEw1pC7o5gB_2-M5FHdmfZ0f0i1rKVLE9QM8zVfZfy6w5HROa6EtbHixrB5P9UG1/s720/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Va_dl_m5ggYJH6RnTPg_0z0b4-vdP-IU4mHbAvBXV1iSTLmggUa57zgUYHdQbb-tv0Tt09PWGX1NpEw1pC7o5gB_2-M5FHdmfZ0f0i1rKVLE9QM8zVfZfy6w5HROa6EtbHixrB5P9UG1/s320/logo.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Gina</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: verdana; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancerawareness?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWk0LekH1osF-fAbHxlmAuIyK5geNRHqSsSNUkMQc2QaongT3N5WlsA8pXNkyCfPGtXDN4tuypkan1Aj44sRzmOQqXqJmlVj33hody6Rjt8dXLsJtk6GW2vJkyI5OmcS43bHDr2q_7RZJq8amAqH3VYxSe0-3ZcKa8l8sorR_eUmDoI5jQ-W6RnNik1EljE0z4&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#BreastCancerAwareness</a></span></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/octoberbreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWk0LekH1osF-fAbHxlmAuIyK5geNRHqSsSNUkMQc2QaongT3N5WlsA8pXNkyCfPGtXDN4tuypkan1Aj44sRzmOQqXqJmlVj33hody6Rjt8dXLsJtk6GW2vJkyI5OmcS43bHDr2q_7RZJq8amAqH3VYxSe0-3ZcKa8l8sorR_eUmDoI5jQ-W6RnNik1EljE0z4&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#octoberbreastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWk0LekH1osF-fAbHxlmAuIyK5geNRHqSsSNUkMQc2QaongT3N5WlsA8pXNkyCfPGtXDN4tuypkan1Aj44sRzmOQqXqJmlVj33hody6Rjt8dXLsJtk6GW2vJkyI5OmcS43bHDr2q_7RZJq8amAqH3VYxSe0-3ZcKa8l8sorR_eUmDoI5jQ-W6RnNik1EljE0z4&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#breastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/bric?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWk0LekH1osF-fAbHxlmAuIyK5geNRHqSsSNUkMQc2QaongT3N5WlsA8pXNkyCfPGtXDN4tuypkan1Aj44sRzmOQqXqJmlVj33hody6Rjt8dXLsJtk6GW2vJkyI5OmcS43bHDr2q_7RZJq8amAqH3VYxSe0-3ZcKa8l8sorR_eUmDoI5jQ-W6RnNik1EljE0z4&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#BRiC</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/secondarybreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWk0LekH1osF-fAbHxlmAuIyK5geNRHqSsSNUkMQc2QaongT3N5WlsA8pXNkyCfPGtXDN4tuypkan1Aj44sRzmOQqXqJmlVj33hody6Rjt8dXLsJtk6GW2vJkyI5OmcS43bHDr2q_7RZJq8amAqH3VYxSe0-3ZcKa8l8sorR_eUmDoI5jQ-W6RnNik1EljE0z4&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#secondarybreastcancer</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/pinkoctober?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWk0LekH1osF-fAbHxlmAuIyK5geNRHqSsSNUkMQc2QaongT3N5WlsA8pXNkyCfPGtXDN4tuypkan1Aj44sRzmOQqXqJmlVj33hody6Rjt8dXLsJtk6GW2vJkyI5OmcS43bHDr2q_7RZJq8amAqH3VYxSe0-3ZcKa8l8sorR_eUmDoI5jQ-W6RnNik1EljE0z4&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#pinkoctober</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancersurvivor?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWk0LekH1osF-fAbHxlmAuIyK5geNRHqSsSNUkMQc2QaongT3N5WlsA8pXNkyCfPGtXDN4tuypkan1Aj44sRzmOQqXqJmlVj33hody6Rjt8dXLsJtk6GW2vJkyI5OmcS43bHDr2q_7RZJq8amAqH3VYxSe0-3ZcKa8l8sorR_eUmDoI5jQ-W6RnNik1EljE0z4&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#breastcancersurvivor</span></a></div><div dir="auto"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: verdana; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/covidandbreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWk0LekH1osF-fAbHxlmAuIyK5geNRHqSsSNUkMQc2QaongT3N5WlsA8pXNkyCfPGtXDN4tuypkan1Aj44sRzmOQqXqJmlVj33hody6Rjt8dXLsJtk6GW2vJkyI5OmcS43bHDr2q_7RZJq8amAqH3VYxSe0-3ZcKa8l8sorR_eUmDoI5jQ-W6RnNik1EljE0z4&__tn__=*NK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#covidandbreastcancer</a></span></div><div dir="auto">#breastcancerawarenessmonth</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-2284867817408298072020-10-25T09:19:00.002+00:002024-02-11T18:15:43.709+00:00Debbie: BRiC for Breast Cancer Awareness<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hi everyone, I wanted to say thank you for the overwhelming support I was offered yesterday (by BRiC members.) I reached out and the response was incredible.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In any circumstances, a diagnosis can be an isolating and frightening thing. However, with Covid too, I feel we are all living in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My situation with secondaries has changed quickly and as a result I feel/felt disempowered and very lost. I slipped into being a patient and not me. I really miss my monthly support group, contact with Macmillan has only just been reinstated and while everyone at the hospital is lovely, I do not feel part of the process.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yesterday many of you offered such compassion and support. I was also offered excellent information that means I can have some agency and know better what questions to ask. I am so very grateful.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm still on rocky ground but picking my way forward instead of feeling frozen to the spot.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is such a wonderful space, thank you all for being wonderfully you xx</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> - Debbie</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRh32DtdQgJfsBpA-MLXjmaplpAflPyniofX7tdyeeuAkh7ssedVZR1r12K_AmUhzTLFZ73WvRcQqLcSXg832nT7pZbbihHVrNWD9tAhSzbfgrJAGoh8FXT0oSS2LfzofPQ6XXOdgv0dK_/s960/bricsand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="715" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRh32DtdQgJfsBpA-MLXjmaplpAflPyniofX7tdyeeuAkh7ssedVZR1r12K_AmUhzTLFZ73WvRcQqLcSXg832nT7pZbbihHVrNWD9tAhSzbfgrJAGoh8FXT0oSS2LfzofPQ6XXOdgv0dK_/s320/bricsand.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEMJuUi-2J6d7K7CPn07IBUPuM5h4NhVeujX0FRivqJM304CyEj8pRpeN5MYcpnATkXfqjkkBwqR0WcEJWKICxWn5AXMaZnbBhoiISW1_FoCS4Jq-KI1z5_QjeaitxZmUlzumREvW-C2-/s720/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEMJuUi-2J6d7K7CPn07IBUPuM5h4NhVeujX0FRivqJM304CyEj8pRpeN5MYcpnATkXfqjkkBwqR0WcEJWKICxWn5AXMaZnbBhoiISW1_FoCS4Jq-KI1z5_QjeaitxZmUlzumREvW-C2-/w108-h108/logo.jpg" width="108" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#breastcancer</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#breastcancerawarenessmonth</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#mentalhealth</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#pinktober</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#resilience</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#secondarybreastcancer</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">#metastaticbreastcancer</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8498770044685994862.post-35075860550707608662020-10-23T10:16:00.003+01:002024-02-11T18:15:49.673+00:00Bal's story: BRiC for Breast Cancer Awareness<p> </p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All my treatment finished 5 years ago, reaching this milestone, I should be jumping up with joy but instead this has created a form of numbness inside me, a constant reminder of all the detrimental effects it has had on my healing process and that of my family.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My follow up mammogram and ultra scan appointments for September have been cancelled and rescheduled for next month.</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These uncertainties push my anxiety levels at an all time high!</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Bal, dressed in pink, on Wear It Pink day </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQAs0VyNvSn-EcqIq6JF3iU7GLeXBZYvc-d-q7fLlujBB8FRCJsXecXik8AoNqbmnITIZkkmA21oYYdjHGaUVXIosYXIaD2C1XzGqgAQ55h5gWF7u9OxuXKnHxnhRSzE_RFTdWTSa0jzn/s960/Bal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQAs0VyNvSn-EcqIq6JF3iU7GLeXBZYvc-d-q7fLlujBB8FRCJsXecXik8AoNqbmnITIZkkmA21oYYdjHGaUVXIosYXIaD2C1XzGqgAQ55h5gWF7u9OxuXKnHxnhRSzE_RFTdWTSa0jzn/s320/Bal.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEo21WRTPmVZuR_l2UO3ZJxfXW-0IbTP_LsJUufquoFSaUO0jWHePxQjC77Kx27BvxceZGBLW-7uuSKxXOUFfkSUTdMr9IP9cedywarKVuatAq0POZZMbA567C0rui3zewcJKGHUzCJcoq/s720/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEo21WRTPmVZuR_l2UO3ZJxfXW-0IbTP_LsJUufquoFSaUO0jWHePxQjC77Kx27BvxceZGBLW-7uuSKxXOUFfkSUTdMr9IP9cedywarKVuatAq0POZZMbA567C0rui3zewcJKGHUzCJcoq/w156-h156/logo.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancerawareness?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#BreastCancerAwareness</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/octoberbreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#octoberbreastcancer</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#breastcancer</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/bric?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#BRiC</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/secondarybreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#secondarybreastcancer</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/pinkoctober?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#pinkoctober</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/breastcancersurvivor?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#breastcancersurvivor</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/covidandbreastcancer?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#covidandbreastcancer</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl q66pz984 gpro0wi8 b1v8xokw" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/wearitpink?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWpaHyHibDNa1COZFQSHdB-xiT8YsjJSuaQvQwT-53QxR8QOcaFrpBjmoGq7TGB2tbWdF2soCw5KTSaTV9g8zFZyDNknxdMgfQa1qDIdx8DVHDjOX9QfzRlIPrK7neywN8fp83WSvLuUPUPLUyC1p0pXASJMDuDkz5RHrrBW0g1y7ser5hBD1f_U7ZX4BLaqNY&__tn__=*NK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#wearitpink</a></span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">#breastcancerawarenessmonth</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>BC_Resiliencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862032700014411020noreply@blogger.com0