Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
It is national Pink month (Breast Cancer Awareness) as if you didn't know it is all around us. Every business, every store, on line, off line and here at DS.
A very worthy cause with a lot of personal touches to many of our lives I would like to know two things...
1) how or has it touched your life for all of us to see how real it is...and...
2) where have you supported / how have you supported the cause a link or endorsement would be fine.
My MIL who I was close too died early when cancer was found too late. She donated her body to science because of it in hopes to help others. Helping is the least I can do.
A very worthy cause with a lot of personal touches to many of our lives I would like to know two things...
1) how or has it touched your life for all of us to see how real it is...and...
2) where have you supported / how have you supported the cause a link or endorsement would be fine.
My MIL who I was close too died early when cancer was found too late. She donated her body to science because of it in hopes to help others. Helping is the least I can do.
2. I regularly donate to the American Cancer Society. A portion of my life insurance is set to go them in the event of my death.
2) I walked the last two Susan G. Komen Race for the Cures, plus one back after my mom was diagnosed...
My maternal grandmother died with ovarian cancer.
Her sister died of breast cancer
My mother is a survivor of breast cancer
My sister died with breast cancer
My MIL, died with renal and breast cancer
My brother is a survivor of renal cancer
I was treated and cured of cervical cancer.
We regularly donate as a family
My husband and I have done several "walks" for breast cancer.
Our small christian community facilitated a fund drive for the research of breast cancer.
Cancer touches many lives in one way or another and mine is riddled with it. I did not even mention everyone in my family lineage. There are some very couragious and strong people on this very board that are survivors and tremendous role models. xo
We are doing this bra memorial thing at a local diagnostic center. Everybody brings bras out and they make this memorial. People also decorate bras using themes based on their loved ones. Donations also happen as well as Relay for Life.
2 - I do not donate specifically to breast cancer research. I donate to the American Cancer Society and to the Jimmy Fund. I have seen cancer affect my life in so many areas that I do not want to simply limit where my funds go.
*I had a bilateral Mastectomy on July 29, 2009
*I started Chemotherapy on September 21, 2009-finished on November 20, 2009
*I stared Radiation therapy January 11, 2010 went Monday through Friday every week until I finished on March 8, 2010
*I had a Total Hysterectomy as I was high risk for Ovarian Cancer on May 3, 2010
Pathology report comes back as CINIII one step away from Cervical Cancer and it had never shown up on any of my Pap smears either.
*Pet scan in April 2010(strange that is the one exact date I forget and it was the happiest)showed I was in remission but that I did have multiple other problems as well having possible Thyroid Cancer, thankfully the biopsy came back negative..
*Had surgery on July 6, 2010 for Breast reconstruction, was one of the most painful experiences I have or ever wish to have in my life. Two weeks later my reconstruction failed, the flap died so two more surgeries to remove part of the flap and take out the expander and debrie(sp?)it. I had a mental, physical and emotional break down for 2 weeks, it was like loosing my breast twice.
DAMMIT!!! The one thing that was supposed to be some good that came out of this whole crappy illness was getting bigger and perkier breasts, why me? I was so sick for 2 months that I lost 46lbs in 6 weeks because I could not eat or drink and constant pain and nausea. Ended up with a hole the size of a tennis ball where my breast should have been that I have to wound change twice a day.
I was at one doctor or other at least 4 days a week during this time, after a endoscopy they find I have a flipping Stress ulcer.
WTF imagine that like I have any stress in my life. Ha Ha
I have at least 4-5 more surgeries to be done this year and next year to fix this reconstruction failure. I am really tired and want it over.
As far as support that is kind of touch and go as I have no family except my sister who is over 2000 miles away. She did come up to help after two of my surgeries but she works too so can only get here once a year. Friends have been kinda sketchy they are there but then again never there as far as emotionally.
I did 80% on my own, I work and worked through chemo and radiation, I am lucky that I work for a doctors office as they have been very understanding and flexible. We had three people in our office last year who were diagnosed with cancer one was a doctor and he will never practice or be able to do surgery again. He has a cadaver humerus bone after many months of chemo to shrink a tumor the size of a baseball.
I try to do as much as I can to support cancer charities and support other patients with cancer.
I have five years where I have to be on constant medication and worry that it will come back. Five years before I dare blow a sigh of relief that it just might be over and I survived.
I HATE F**KING CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!