Information and opinions on health from SWhiting at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/948173/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/948173/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/948173/index http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/130041/sailboats Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:42:51 -0500 SWhiting After cancer treatment, I think we all must look like a sailboat pushed off from the dock. We need puffs of fresh breezes and some sort of map so we may proceed.   Pushing off from that dock, that is hope. Hope with a capital H. We leave the medically guided treatments behind, knowing we are out there in the boundary-less ocean under our own steam. We steer the boat. We make sure there is wind in our sails. You do it your way. My way is... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/130041/sailboats http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/129575/grateful Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:55:11 -0500 SWhiting A thought came to me, thinking about my fellow cancer fighters. You fight, you battle, you give it all you can, you win. But not everyone wins. I am stopped in my tracks about a young girl and two guys my age, from this town, all died the end of last year. Six months ago they were here, fighting as I was fighting. Now they are gone. Of cancer. Why them, not me? They went to doctors, prayed. I am sure they prayed fiercely, and people prayed... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/129575/grateful http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/129468/drishti Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:11:41 -0500 SWhiting I have been asking cancer survivors I happen to be in conversation with, how has cancer changed you?   Dear friend reading this, you know that from the beginning I knew cancer would be used by God for good in my life. Redirection. I want to learn the lessons, make the changes, and live life to the fullest. I want to embrace all God has set out for me on my path.   So what were their answers? (I paraphrased some of their words) 1.... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/129468/drishti http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/128988/damned Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:16:09 -0500 SWhiting Sixteen days since the last radiation. Started anastrozole (generic Arimidex) fifteen days ago. Will be on this estrogen-sponging drug for five years. How am I feeling? Physically I am achey and profoundly tired. I like the word profoundly, don't you. Makes whatever comes after it appear more serious and intellectual and true. And deep. Have to say it in a British accent. So profoundly tired that, Monday when I was up and out for five hours... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/128988/damned http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127823/unknown Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:55:41 -0500 SWhiting Fear is thinking that the future will not be good. (my definition) Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by a perceived threat. (dictionary definition) Pink from Tuesday I have tried to cast off the mantle of fear all my life, since I can remember thinking thoughts. Fear of no one liking me, fear of will I get into college, will I graduate, does he love me, will I be alone, will my baby be healthy, will he follow God, will he choose the... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127823/unknown http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127672/pink-boa Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:54:44 -0500 SWhiting I lay on the radiation table, hands clasped above my head according to my foam molded pillow, head turned slightly to the right. I am alone in the huge treatment room, walls painted to look friendly. They have taken two x-rays, the doctor has told the techs to tweak my position so the four radiations hit their targets precisely. I'm in the white gown with the blue 1950's design of triangles. I hear the Trilogy's motor rev up, it is going to... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127672/pink-boa http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127478/days Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:41:49 -0500 SWhiting Two more radiations. Then I take an Arimidex pill (a generic of it) daily for the next five years. Last night I lay in bed thinking, I should feel like jumping up and down and celebrating. Instead I feel a bit unsettled. What's this all about? Is this strange? Ever feel like this at the end of a long-term tough time? Well, first of all I am tired and blistered. Certainly clouds your thoughts. But here's what I think. I've been fighting a... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127478/days http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127419/christmas Sun, 26 Dec 2010 12:23:09 -0500 SWhiting I have always loved the Day After Christmas. Everything is quite, everyone is peaceful, everyone feels loved. The decorations are still up, Christmas Carols are still appropriate, the refrigerator is FULL of leftovers. Good leftovers. And there are absolutely no expectations of what anyone should do. Radiology was closed Christmas Eve (Friday) so I have three days of no treatments. The last TWO are Monday and Tuesday. Good timing, as I have... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127419/christmas http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127285/december Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:13:16 -0500 SWhiting Wednesday nine years ago my mother died. God gave me two gifts that night, one I asked for specifically and one I never ever could have even imagined, that was and will always be one of the most close-to-heaven moments ever. Let me tell you how it all happened.   Mom and I were close, very close. We laughed , we argued, we planned, we figured things out. Spent alot of time together. Discussed every detail of my life, the kids, Mike, and... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127285/december http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127042/christmas Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:11:58 -0500 SWhiting So many are right now going through tough times, surgery or financial tightness or loosing loved ones, or OH WOW this body won't last forever. I think we all get the meaning of this re-written familiar passage. When I read it, I saw she put into words what I think, but she says it so much better than I...   1 Corinthians 13 ... Christmas Style By Sharon Jaynes If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of... http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/948173/127042/christmas