Today a group of my family and friends took part in the “Race for the Cure.” Besides their matching shirts, my darling daughter made signs for everyone to wear. Each sign designated their relationship to me and ended with the phrase “Transcending Cancer”. So Monty’s read like this:
My Wife
Julia Andrus
Transcending Cancer
Or for the grandchildren:
Grandma
Julia Andrus
Transcending Cancer
Or;
Friend
Julia Andrus
Transcending Cancer
And so it goes… I couldn’t go. My white counts are extremely low and I can’t be around people, crowds or my beloved grandchildren. While they were gone I got on my elliptical tread mill to do my daily routine, but I ran like I was with them. I started when I knew they started and I finished when they did.
I watched it on the news. They said it was the biggest turn-out ever and close to twenty thousand people showed up to participate. I can just imagine all those people in matching pink shirts walking, running, pushing strollers (like my girls) and sharing this passionate concern. Breast cancer had touched their lives in some way. Some of the runners were bald and in treatment themselves. Some were those who had lost someone to the battle and they were there for the rest of us. Some people had the picture of the person they lost pinned to their shirts. Some were older and needed assistance along the way. Oh the community of it all!
My gosh! This disease will make an activist out of you. I can’t imagine any woman going through this that would not want to spare her daughter, her mother, her friends or a perfect stranger. This disease is serious and it is depriving too many women of their lives and contributions. I can feel the birth of the activist in me. I will find someway to give back when I am better.
2 Comments
Hi Julia,
I was very touched by your story. I had (hope it is still past tense) a rare breast cancer called a phylloides tumor. It is sarcoma not carcinoma. The only treatment fr this is surgery. I had a mastectomy (simple) in 2000. I don’t know about your type of inflammoatory bc but I do know how serious ibc is. I am sorry you are going though this and I hope your stopping writing on July 13 doesn’t mean you are sick. I am happy for the results that you have had so far. I used to belong to a message board that is quite helpful to those “transending” bc. The address is bcsupport.org. There are various discussion areas, the main board , the chemo, Dory’s, just for fun, recurrence , ect. I now belong to a group called Ladybirds Chat which is an offshoot from this board, It was started by a brave lady from Scotland whom we called Princess Ali. I met her in NYC at what was called the Ali Fest. She has some writings she did for a paper in Scotland about her experience., which are inspiring and honest. At the fest at a barbeque restaurant , we all dressed in gowns for the “princess and she arrived in a limosine. We got a gorgeous young guy to act the part of the prince. 45 woman from all over the US and even Canada came. It was a wonderful experience to be with these woman that I didn’t really know but felt such comradery with. Ali stayed in NYC only 4 days and on the 4th day the prince proposed to her and they were married Jan . a year later. They had a year and a half together but Ali lost her fight May 23 at 49 years old. He writes to use on Ladybird chat quite often and he is staying in Scotland. Although Ali died , _She was metastatic for 3 years as she was when I met her) she was an inspiration and if you are interested I can send you her articles. I wish you the best from all of my heart. I found your website from Suze Weinberg’s newsletter and felt I had to write. Your experience with the crystals was incredible and your regimen may help others on bcsupport.org if you feel you want to share it. The very best to you and prayers.
Judy Friedkin,
Philadelphia, Pa
Julia, your beautiful writing touches my heart. What you are having to experience is devestating; yet your love, your sense of humor, and your courage shine through. What an inspiration you are to all of us. You are in my prayers, and in my thoughts, as you go through the next steps in your treatment.
Sharon Foster
Dallas, Georgia