Reply #16: I had 2 friends with breast cancer. I think their attitudes had a big part to do with their outcomes

[Liberty Belle]

One did everything wrong -- refused to quit smoking or drinking heavily, refused her husband's pleas to eat healthy or exercise or consider anything like vitamins or supplements. She did chemo and radiation, beat it for 5 years, but ultimately was an alcoholic with emphysema when the cancer came back and she lost her battle.


The other friend is doing great, fully recovered and in remission. Her breast cancer came at the worst possible time, like yours. Her husband had just been in a bad accident, had almost died, and was still in a wheelchair. They wound up getting a friend who is a comedienne to move in and take care of them both for a couple of months -- tough to be deprsesed when someone keeps cracking jokes! Her husband was very supportive. She had surgery and chemo, but as I recall, passed on radiation. When she lost her hair from chemo her husband shaved his head too and they hosted a Halloween party dressed as Hare Krishnas! She got reconstructive surgery right away to restore her figure (unlike my first friend, who didn't and always felt self-conscious about her looks). She's now the picture of health, ever upbeat, and her husband has recovered so fully that he's now running for City Council.

My aunt had breast cancer, too, and she's survived it for decades now. She's always been a cheerful and happy person. so think positive, be as healthy as you can otherwise, and good luck!