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Kazue
My wife was diagnosed stage IV when our son was 1.5 years. Since then, she
has had double mastectomies, a couple of other little lumps here and there cut out, been
through 5 different types of chemos, 2 types of hormone treatments, shallow radiation
to burn off some mets on the skin, deep radiation to clean up before and after surgery -
the whole works.
It hit her lung lining and around her heart once (fluid buildup leading to shortness of breath,
panicky feelings - drained out in a one month hospital stay), but she got better.
We live in Japan, and there doesn't seem to be that much of a difference between treatments here and in the USA. The time spent in the hospital during the more vicious chemo treatments is
much longer here, and the newer drugs take longer to become available here.
We have moved once since that time, I have switched jobs once, we have
travelled, our son just entered into grade 2 of elementary school. We have
had Xmas's and B-day parties, dinners out and dinners in. Cried some,
laughed some, had some fights, had some wonderful times.
She had some times when she was sure she would die. The other day she remarked that she
had a feeling that all the sickness just drained right out of her, and that she is
'all better'. Her hair has dropped out a couple of times, came back a
couple of times. Lots more grey now, than when she started, me too.
Near as I can figure, Life goes on. All I can say for advice
is, 'Hang in there..Have fun...Do your best...Strike a balance...Don't
push yourself too much...Don't be bored'
Love you.
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