Bless you Shannon. I wish you a long future with a happy and healthy family. Keep the wonderful perspective you have. j

Shannon - you brought tears to my eyes! Congrats!!!

My friend had breast cancer and after chemo, her blond hair came in much darker. I had not seen her in several years (we went to school together but she now lives out of town - we keep in touch) until recently (a chance meeting, she was in town visiting her mother, ran into her in a restaurant)and if her mother hadn't been with her, I probably wouldn't have recognized her!

I, too, wish you a long and healthy life. You have been an inspiration to us!

tina

Also sitting here with tears in my eyes. I'm glad the hard stuff is now over and you get back to life. You're a very strong person Shannon. :) I love your positive look. Wishing you all the best!

Congratulations. A toast for good health. You have the right attitude and I am confident you'll get into your new routine with style and ease

I think we all have tears in our eyes & on our cheeks!

Welcome back Shannon; it looks like by the way you are writing that you are feeling better & the chemo is leaving your body... Hub still has some "Chemo brain" left over but not bad after almost 10 months..

I'm glad you are finished treatments; I know radiation is a monster in itself. I hope you did not have to endure the pain from it like hub did. The Actiq (morphine) pops helped a lot with pain; I don't know why doctors don't give them more to cancer patients because that's what they're for.

Your hair should not take long to grow in. My MIL's hair looked great about a year after she finished - it was the 1st time I'd seen her. I will send positive energy that you do not have to have your ovaries removed.

Hub had to put off his 50th birthday Mexico fishing trip last year because of his diagnosis - he actually could have gone but it was scheduled for a month after his radical neck dissection & feeding tube; it was already put on hold from when he turned 50 (had his shoulder operated on & when we moved lol so he's going in 10 days. Thankfully it was already paid for.

Good luck Shannon; may you heal quickly; but if you do not, don't let it discourage you. Everyone heals differently. Took hub 4 months to recover from chemo/rad

~Hugs

I have so many tears that I lost my voice completely. Thanks for checking in, even if you did make me cry. You are an inspiration. Choke, choke...

What a treat to read your post today and share in your elation! I wish you smooth sailing from here on.

I had the genetic testing done about 2 years ago - I'm assuming you mean the Brac analysis - and it was very helpful. It looks for a genetic link to breast and ovarian cancer (you said uterine but I think you mean ovarian) and since my sister died of ovarian cancer I was tested, as was my brother and my sister's son.

Wow! What a great post! Congratulations on being DONE and thank you for letting us know how you've been doing. Your post is sooo full of great positive energy and I'm so happy for you! Have fun planning your fabulous vacation to Utah or Idaho or wherever you end up going. Best wishes to you and your wonderful DH!

You've been such a trouper through all of it, I admire you greatly.
And I'm so glad there is a new beginning for you !!

Such wonderful news! The next 44+ years will be full of celebrations and joy, judging from what you have planned so far! Keep that up!!!! :)

That is such good news!! You go girl! And yes, everyday is a good day. 13 year bc survivor here.

What a great attitude and I wish you every blessing there is.

Shannon, I am uplifted and inspired by your courage and spirit. I haven't followed your ordeal since the beginning of the year, but thank you so much for sharing the cliff notes version today. Heal up, grow hair, and keep sharing that dessert!

Shannon, I don't post here often but many days through out this past year you were in my thoughts and payers. In fact I was just thinking of you within the past few weeks wondering how you were doing. I was so happy to read your news this evening. Thank you for sharing your positive outlook on life.

I am so happy for you, and glad you can move on to happier times. I remember when you posted about your diagnosis, and how positive you were. I was so impressed, and I still am.
Huge hugs and congratulations to you!
Jen

Congratulations, Shannon, on such a wonderful milestone! Thank you for sharing all that you have with us. We are all better for the experience. Here’s to 44 more years filled with joy and love!

Congratulations!! What a beautiful, inspiring post. It's also wonderful that your job is being held for you. We can't take those things for granted anymore. And re your husband: I read some research tonight that the photograph of a loved one can sometimes substitute for pain meds. At any rate, it sure sounds like your DH was instrumental in your success. An honorary g'webber for sure :)

I do know a little bit of what you talk about, that putting up shelves can wait til 'after dessert' :) ...after my MI in '08 I resolved to try to do *something* every single day that I absolutely *loved*, that made me be me. I've been able to keep that resolution, mostly, and my life has been more like me, iykwim, as a result. Why did I have to wait until the MI to realize that I had the right to do that? The things we think are so urgent, so necessary day-to-day...they're often just NOT. LIFE is urgent and necessary!

Shannon, you are an absolute inspiration to all of us, you have had great courage these past months and now it sounds as though you are "good to go".......eat your dessert and have some fun!! Keep us posted, always love your posts here.

Congratulations! Your post is so moving! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You have been through so much, but it is clear that you have learned and grown exponentially. I am elated to hear that with your hard-won wisdom, you are finding greater meaning, joy and peace in life. How wonderful that you are truly savoring each moment; what a blessing.

Best wishes to you Shannon. As the next chapter unfolds I'm sure it will reveal new and rewarding adventures! Enjoy!

I raise my coffee mug to toast you on your success, congratulations.

What a heartwarming post. Congrats.

Huge congrats to you shannon. You have had a very tough year, yet endured with grace and patience. I admire your tenacity.

You mention going to Idaho - "He wants to go to Idaho, near the Tetons, to kayak and see nature." Please take your husband and go whenever you can. DH and I just returned from Idaho visiting my BIL/SIL. It is the closest to heaven that I've ever gotten, and I've been to many places in my life. The stars shine so brightly in the jet black sky, it is just amazingly awesome. You deserve an experience like that which you will find in rural Idaho. If I had my druthers, it would be to go back and live in that part of the Country.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I know I am a better person just from reading your posts! Very inspiring.

I wish you all good days, strength and most of all peace of mind! Great job!

I just wanted to say how wonderful you sound, your attitude and spirit are second to none.

God bless you and your family!

Way to rock there Shannon!

"May the road rise up to meet you..."

Here's hopin' the hair flows back in...there's lots of 80's Hairband stuff to go over don'cha know!!

Strength & Love,
Faron

Thanks. There are literally no other words I can say to express how I deeply your support has helped me.

The other day my friend's 12yr dd asked me if I was cured. I had to pause a while because that has actually been on my mind a lot. I asked my dh when I am considered a survivor. He said after 5yrs. But once I stop taking the 5yr meds things could come back.

So I very kindly explained to the girl that there is no way to really know. I will be watched closely and hopefully it is gone and never comes back. She simply said, "Oh."

So I guess the best way to look at all this is that I am surviving every single day, one day at a time. I truly wonder, sorry to say but I think honesty is important amoung friends, that one day I will wake up with another lump and die the next day. It is not a fear that ruins my daily life, but it is a deep down heartfelt wondering that I think will just linger within me.

I know many of you here have been in my same shoes and will assure me that life goes on. I know it does. Returning to work after 9months off is going to feel weird. Like I picked up where I left off. Kinda like I took a really long lunch break and now I am back to finish the days work.

Like they say, life goes on. And so shall all of us.

Again, thanks.

Shannon, I hear you. How could you not feel like that? My mom was diagnosed with Lymphoma when I was 12 - in the 60s. She died of the same disease when she was 81, thirty five years later. How is that for buying a lifetime, given the era? I hope you have bought at least the same amount of time. (((Hugs))) You are one class act.

What a wonderful, positive thing to read this morning!

YAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! Big smile in PA!