Recently I shared the link of Shannen Doherty’s Breast Cancer story on Breast Friends Facebook page. Her story has really struck me, firstly I was shocked to hear she had Breast Cancer, can you believe that…………… I was shocked that she got breast cancer after being diagnosed with it myself at 36. So being a successful, Hollywood actress doesn’t deter Breast Cancer from barging unwelcome into your life !
As I read this article I shook my head, I could relate to so much of what she said, I feel Shannen has taken Breast Cancer and she has been so open and honest about how it has affected her. Surely this honesty will help so many girls who are going through Breast Cancer, at the very minimum it will show them they are not alone or different with how they are feeling.
“The unknown is always the scariest part,” she shares. “Is the chemo going to work? Is the radiation going to work? You know, am I going to have to go through this again, or am I going to get secondary cancer? Everything else is manageable. Pain is manageable, you know living without a breast is manageable, it’s the worry of your future and how your future is going to affect the people that you love.”
This is the quote from the article that I feel rings most true. Those of us who are lucky enough to have finished our treatment will most definitely have nearly word for word uttered this phrase ourselves. Those of us who have just been diagnosed and about to embark on treatment or just started it will be tormented with these thoughts, not one of us escapes this. The only difference is how we deal with it and as we are all unique we all have different ways of coping and working through it – there is no right or wrong.
Recently I have heard many devastating stories of people loosing their fight with Breast Cancer or having to fight it again. Its news I dread to hear. I only want to hear that girls who have had Breast Cancer go on to have happy, healthy lives but unfortunately sometimes that just doesn’t happen, and those girls are always in my thoughts.
As I grew up my parents often said “your health is your wealth” when we would moan. Well Mam and Dad you were right ! In 2013/2014 I learned this lesson the hard way, the day I got my diagnosis I would have given all of my material goods in exchange for my health. Fast forward to where I am today, my life has changed so much, I got to see my son make his communion, I am watching him grow up, nurturing him and making sure he grows up to be a good person, I start a new career, I have moved home, I fell in love, my illness brought some wonderful people into my life. In exchange for the heartache Breast Cancer gave me it also gave me something positive, its given me a better appreciation for life, it has put life into perspective. When I achieve a goal it means more to me than it would have before, instead of moaning about getting old I welcome it so many people are robbed of this. I’m not a perfect person but I’m definitely a better person.
I escape the fear when it tries to grasp me by focusing on the NOW. I look at whats happening with my life today. I think about all of the positive aspect of my life. I go to a place I love. I go to the gym. I go shopping. I always shift my thinking and direct it towards the happy aspects of my life.
So Shannen thank you for sharing your experience at such a vulnerable time in your illness. You are honest about your fears as well as your triumphs. A famous persons experience will always inspire and help others so what you are doing by highlighting the not so talked about aspect of Breast Cancer is priceless.
For those of you who haven’t read this article already here’s the link.
#breastcancerawareness #breastcancer #hope #health
