I am still a woman - Confessions of a twice cancer survivor - my journey by Nina Ann McCurley

Loosing a parent!

2020-07-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

When a Parent Dies: Dealing with the Loss of Your Mother or Father

By David Kessler

This is spot on. I guess until you go through this you will never know.

#parents #love #grief #davidkessler #survivor #iamstillawoman

When a parent of an adult dies, there is almost an unspoken expectation that it will not hit you head on. An adult is expected to accept death as a part of life, to handle all sudden losses in an appropriate adult manner. But really, what does that mean? That you should not be sad? That you should be so grateful they didn’t die when you were a child that you don’t need to mourn your parent? The above considerations demonstrate an under-estimation of grief.

Grief is the reflection of the connection that has been lost. That loss does not diminish because you are an adult or because your mother or father lived a long life. Our society places enormous pressure on us to get over loss, to get through the grief. But how long do you grieve for the man who was your father for 30 years? Do you grieve less for your mother of 50 years? The loss happens in a moment, but its aftermath lasts a lifetime. The grief is real because loss is real. Each loss has its own imprint, as distinctive and unique as the person we lost. It doesn’t matter how old we are.

When we lose an aged parent, many times well-intentioned friends try to offer condolences, such as, “He had a long life, you must be happy about that,” or, “You’re so lucky he died so quickly.” However, these words often do not resonate as we suffer the loss of a father or mother who had been by our side our entire life. We will never have another father. We will never have another mother.

The parental connection

We sometimes forget the depth of connection we have with our parents. They are often our main connection in the world and to the world. Even if we have a loving spouse, children and many close friends, the death of a parent means the loss of one of our first and most important connections. The misconception that a mature and capable adult will not need to grieve their parent can cause the bereaved to feel even more alone, as their grief goes unrecognized.

Reflection

After our parents die, we take another look at them. We realize, perhaps for the first time, all they did for us as children. For some of us, when we become parents, we appreciate the challenges our own parents must have gone through. We gain a new perspective on their lives. If we idealized our parents when we were kids, now we also see their flaws and imperfections. In the case of losing one parent, for instance your mother, there is a great opportunity to get to know more about her from the perspective and experiences of your surviving father.

In our adulthood, our relationship with our parents changes and continues. Before a parent is gone, we understand intellectually that they will die someday. But understanding and anticipating does not prepare us for the grief we feel when as an adult we lose a parent. As you reflect on the memory of your loved one, whether you are alone or walking through it with a surviving parent as mentioned above, you are beginning the journey through the now well-known stages of grief.

The 5 stages of grief

In “On Grief and Grieving,” a book I co-authored with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D., she and I discuss how these stages have evolved since their introduction and how they have been very misunderstood over the past decades. People mistakenly think they are meant to tuck messy emotions into neat packages. But the emotions of grief reflect feelings and are beyond organizing. They are organic responses to loss, and just like there are no typical losses, there are no typical responses to loss. The truth is that our grief is as individual as our lives.

The 5 stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance—are a part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the one we lost. They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling; but not to organize it. They are not stops on some linear timeline of grief. Not everyone goes through all of them, and there is no prescribed order. They are as follows:

1. Denial

Denial in grief has been misinterpreted over the years. When the stage of denial was first introduced by Kübler-Ross, it focused on the person who was dying. In grief after loss, the denial is more symbolic than literal.

What happens during the denial stage?

Denial and shock help us to cope and make survival possible.
Denial helps us to pace our feelings of grief.
There is a grace in denial. It is nature’s way of letting in only as much as we can handle.

What does denial look like?

Denial is a disbelief that your parent isn’t ever going to call again or that your father isn’t just a flight away.
You can’t fathom that he will never walk through your door again.
At the beginning, we might be paralyzed with shock.
Rather than denying the actual death when someone says, “I can’t believe he’s dead,” the person is actually communication that this death is too much for his or her psyche.
You begin to question the how and why. You may ask as you review the circumstances, how did this happen?
You are no longer in an external story telling mode. Now you turn inward as you begin the search for understanding.
You explore the circumstances surrounding the loss. Did it have to happen? Did it have to happen that way? Could anything have prevented it?

The finality of the loss begins to gradually sink in. She is not coming back. This time he didn’t make it. With each realization of the truth, you begin to climb the mountain of realizing they are really gone. As you accept the reality of the loss and start to ask yourself questions, you are unknowingly beginning the healing process. You will find yourself becoming stronger while the denial is beginning to fade. But as you proceed, all the feelings you were denying begin to surface.

2. Anger

Anger is a necessary stage of the healing process. Be willing to feel your anger. The more you truly feel it, the more it will begin to dissipate and the faster you will heal. There are many emotions under the anger. You will get to them in time, but anger is the emotion we are most used to managing. We choose it, often to avoid the feelings underneath, until we are ready to face them. It may feel all-consuming, but as long as anger doesn’t consume you for a long period of time, it is a legitimate part of your internal emotional management.

Anger does not have to be logical or valid. It is important to feel the anger without judging it, without attempting to find meaning in it. Life is unfair. Death is unfair. Anger is a natural reaction to the unfairness of loss. If you could change things, you would, but you can’t and you are not to blame.

People may ask you to move quickly through your anger, but it’s important to remember that this is a part of the grieving process. People can also feel that your anger is misplaced, inappropriate or disproportionate. Some people may feel your anger is too harsh or too much. Don’t let anyone diminish the importance of feeling your anger fully. And don’t let anyone criticize your anger – not even you. We cannot change other’s reactions to our anger. All we can do is take care of ourselves.

What happens during the anger stage?

Anger often masks our pain, allowing time for intense feelings to come to the surface—feelings that may be too much to handle right now.
Anger means you are progressing through your grief.
Anger affirms that you can feel, that you did love and that you have lost.
Unfortunately, anger can isolate you from friends and family at the precise time you may need them the most.

What does anger look like?

Anger at your parent that he didn’t take better care of himself.
Or anger that you didn’t take better care of him.
You may be angry that you didn’t see this coming and when you did, nothing could stop it.
Or you may be angry with the doctors for not being able to save someone so dear to you.
Your anger may take the form of facing the fact that bad things could happen to someone who meant so much to you.
Anger at the healthcare system, at life or at your parent for dying.
Anger coupled with blame and resentment.
You also may experience feelings of guilt, which is anger turned inward on yourself.

Mourning a parent for whom you have negative feelings

People are often conflicted about the loss of a parent about whom they had negative feelings. The confusing grief that follows is that adult children can’t understand feeling sad and angry about someone they really didn’t like. We mourn for those who cared for us the way they should have. We also mourn for those who did not give us the love we deserved.

You can grieve fully for people who were terrible to you. And if you need to grieve for them, you should do so. We must take time to mourn and experience the type of parent we had and the type we never had, and acknowledge the reality that those losses cannot be pushed aside even if we think the person did not deserve our love.

3. Bargaining

Before a loss, it seems like you will do anything if only your loved one could be spared. After a loss, bargaining may take the form of a temporary truce. We become lost in a maze of “If only…” or “What if…” statements. We want life returned to what it was. We want our father back. …if only, if only, if only.

What happens during the bargaining stage?

Bargaining can help our mind move from one state of loss to another.
It can be a way-station that gives our psyche the time it may need to adjust.
Bargaining can fill the gaps that our strong emotions generally dominate as it keeps suffering at a distance.
It allows us to believe that we can restore order to the chaos that has taken over.

What does bargaining look like?

“Please God,” you bargain, “I will never be angry at my mom again if you’ll just let her live.”
“What if I devote the rest of my life to helping others? Then, can I wake up and realize this has all been a bad dream?”
“If only we had found the tumor sooner and recognized the illness more quickly.”
“What if we could have stopped the accident from happening?”
After a death, bargaining often moves from the past to the future.
- We may bargain that we will see our parents again in heaven.
- We may bargain and ask for a respite from illnesses in our family, or that no other tragedies visit our loved ones.

As we move through the bargaining process, the mind alters past events while exploring all those “what if” and “if only” statements. Sadly, as adults, we arrive at the inevitable conclusion…the reality is that parent is truly gone.

4. Depression

After bargaining, our attention moves into the present. Empty feelings surface, and grief enters our lives on a deeper level, deeper than we ever imagined. This depressive stage feels as though it will last forever. It’s important to understand that this depression is not a sign of mental illness. It is the appropriate response to the loss of a parent.

Depression is an appropriate response

Depression after a loss is often criticized as unnatural: a state to be fixed, something to snap out of. The first question to ask yourself is whether or not the situation you’re in is actually depressing. The loss of a parent is a very depressing situation, and depression is a normal and appropriate response. When a loss fully settles in your soul, the realization that your parent didn’t get better this time and is not coming back is understandably depressing.

Depression is a step toward healing

If we look at grief as a process of healing, then depression is one of the many necessary steps along the way. If you have the awareness to recognize you are in depression or have been told by multiple friends you are depressed, your first response may be to resist and find a way out. Finding a way out of depression feels like going into a maze, fearful that there is no exit.

How to deal with depression

As tough as it is, depression can be dealt with in a paradoxical way. See it as a visitor, perhaps an unwelcome one, but one who is visiting whether you like it or not. Make a place for your guest. Invite your depression to pull up a chair with you in front of the fire, and sit with it, without looking for a way to escape.

Allow the sadness and emptiness to cleanse you and help you explore your loss in its entirety. When you allow yourself to experience depression, it will usually leave as soon as it has served its purpose in your loss. As you grow stronger, it may return from time to time, but that is how grief works.

What happens during the depression stage?

As difficult as it is to endure, depression has elements that can be helpful in grief.

It slows us down and allows us to take real stock of the loss.
It makes us rebuild ourselves from the ground up.
It clears the deck for growth.
It takes us to a deeper place in our soul that we would not normally explore.

5. Acceptance

This stage is about accepting the reality that our loved one is physically gone and that this new reality is permanent. We will never like this reality or make it okay, but eventually we accept it. This is where our final healing and adjustment can take a firm hold, despite the fact that healing often looks and feels like an unattainable state.

What happens during the acceptance stage?

We, the survivors, begin sadly to realize that it was our loved one’s time to die.

Of course it was too soon for us, and probably too soon for him or her, too. Perhaps he was very old or full of pain and disease. Perhaps her body was worn down and she was ready for her life to be over. But our life still continues. It is not yet time for us to die. In fact, it is time for us to heal.

We often come to terms with our own mortality.
We learn to live with the death and begin to live within the new norm.

What does acceptance and healing look like?

Remembering, recollecting and reorganizing.
We may cease to be angry with God; we may become aware of the common-sense reasons for our loss, even if we never actually understand the reasons.
Reorganizing roles, reassigning them to others or taking them on ourselves.

Now we try to live in a world where our parent is missing. In resisting this new norm, at first many people want to maintain life as it was before a loved one died. In time, through bits and pieces of acceptance, we see that we cannot maintain the past intact. It has been forever changed and we must readjust.

Practical obligations

In our grief, while heavy emotions flow within us, we are still called upon to complete the practical obligations of tying up the loose ends of our parent’s world. One of the tasks laid before us in our grief is taking care of our parent’s possessions. Whatever their possessions may be, whether the most valuable items or small inexpensive things they collected over the years, they all are symbolic. They represent things that meant enough to our parents that they chose to keep them. People often find this an overwhelming task.

Taking care of your parent’s possessions

Consider inviting a friend to help.
Use this as a journey of discovery to reveal memories that were long forgotten by you.
You can also use this difficult process to learn new things about your parents.
You may feel like you are invading their privacy but just remember—who else would they want to do this besides you? Who would protect their privacy and their dignity better than you?
Have a camera with you. Items that you want to remember but will never use again can be remembered with a picture and given to someone who can use it.

Letting go of items

It may be hard to let go of certain things that represent your parents to you. Other items you may want to keep to give to friends, family members, or perhaps to your kids. Keep some of them and give the rest away to a charity of your choice. This can be your parents’ final gift to the world. Imagine how these things could help someone else who does not have the money or resources to buy everything they need. Now, someone else can get pleasure from and find usefulness for some of your parent’s prized possessions.

When you have a surviving parent

Some of you may be packing up a deceased parent’s belongings with the surviving parent. You may be the one gently helping them get through this task. Be patient, be kind and make time to talk about memories.

Grieving differences

As we work to balance our inner and outer worlds, we may be surprised to discover that each of us grieves differently, even among siblings one may grieve with many tears and the other with none. One may feel supported in a group, the other may crave time alone with their grief.

Without being aware of it, some of us tend to feel that our way of grieving is the right way. We think others should grieve like we do. Regardless of the grief we feel, we usually fall toward one end of the pendulum or the other. We are either “grieving the right way (our way)” or judging ourselves that we are grieving the “wrong way.”

In the end, we need compassion for ourselves and those around us. We have suffered a great loss in our life, one that has shaken us to the core, and even more so if we are one of the many who lost one parent right after the other, leaving us feeling even more disconnected from the world.

Life without Mom or Dad in the world

Whether our parents live near or far, are emotionally close or distant, they ground us in the world. We don’t often think of them as an unseen anchor, but in truth, they hold a place in our generational timeline. They have been there since the moment we were born and even though, intellectually, we know they will die some day, how do we imagine something that has always been there, suddenly being gone? Can you imagine a world without a sky? Of course not. It has always been there.

The death of a parent delivers us to a world we have thought about but couldn’t actually fully prepare for. We are suddenly exploring new terrain, feeling rootless or as if the ground has been pulled out from under us. And in a symbolic way, it really has been.

A new relationship

As we heal, we learn who we are and who our parents were in life. In a strange way, as we move through grief, healing brings us closer to the person we loved. A new relationship begins. We learn to live with the parent we lost.

Now that you come to the end of a life, that same life which gave you life, the memory is buried deep in your heart and dwells deep in your soul. A new relationship will continue with that parent—not a physical relationship but one where the parent lives on in your heart. You will continue to remember them, think of them and love them, for the rest of your life until you meet again.

Little by little, we withdraw our energy from the loss and begin to invest it back into life. We put the loss into perspective, learning how to remember our loved ones and commemorate the loss. In the days to come, as time passes, it may still hurt but in time it will hurt less frequently. All that your parent was, all the love you shared and the relationship you had will not die. That depth of love, that depth of caring, is everlasting. We can never replace our parents, but we can strengthen our family connections as we find new and deeper meaning in our existing relationships. We begin to live again, but we cannot do so until we have given grief its time.

About the author

David Kessler is one of the most well-known experts on grief and loss today, reaching many people through his books including “On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of Loss,” co-authored with the legendary Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. They also co-authored, “Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach us about the Mysteries of Life and Living.” His first book, “The Needs of the Dying: A Guide for Bringing Hope, Comfort and Love to Life’s Final Chapter,” received praise by Mother Teresa.

His work has been discussed in the LA Times, the NY Times and has been featured on CNN, NBC, MSNBC, PBS, “Entertainment Tonight” and “Oprah’s Friends.” He has written for the Boston Globe, The LA Times and The SF Chronicle.

What is Insulin ?

2020-07-18T16:19:00.001-07:00

What is Insulin?

Important hormone allows your body to use sugar (glucose)

This is so interesting and very well written. it’s so important to know how your body works, this article is perfect.

What is Insulin?

Important hormone allows your body to use sugar (glucose)

Written by Amy Hess-Fischl MS, RD, LDN, BC-ADM, CDE

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows your body to use sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates in the food that you eat for energy or to store glucose for future use. Insulin helps keeps your blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).

The cells in your body need sugar for energy. However, sugar cannot go into most of your cells directly. After you eat food and your blood sugar level rises, cells in your pancreas (known as beta cells) are signaled to release insulin into your bloodstream. Insulin then attaches to and signals cells to absorb sugar from the bloodstream. Insulin is often described as a “key,” which unlocks the cell to allow sugar to enter the cell and be used for energy.

If you have more sugar in your body than it needs, insulin helps store the sugar in your liver and releases it when your blood sugar level is low or if you need more sugar, such as in between meals or during physical activity. Therefore, insulin helps balance out blood sugar levels and keeps them in a normal range. As blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas secretes more insulin.

If your body does not produce enough insulin or your cells are resistant to the effects of insulin, you may develop hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), which can cause long-term complications if the blood sugar levels stay elevated for long periods of time.

Insulin Treatment for Diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes cannot make insulin because the beta cells in their pancreas are damaged or destroyed. Therefore, these people will need insulin injections to allow their body to process glucose and avoid complications from hyperglycemia.

People with type 2 diabetes do not respond well or are resistant to insulin. They may need insulin shots to help them better process sugar and to prevent long-term complications from this disease. Persons with type 2 diabetes may first be treated with oral medications, along with diet and exercise. Since type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, the longer someone has it, the more likely they will require insulin to maintain blood sugar levels.

Various types of insulin are used to treat diabetes and include:

Rapid-acting insulin: It starts working approximately 15 minutes after injection and peaks at approximately 1 hour but continues to work for two to four hours. This is usually taken before a meal and in addition to a long-acting insulin.
Short-acting insulin: It starts working approximately 30 minutes after injection and peaks at approximately 2 to 3 hours but will continue to work for three to six hours. It is usually given before a meal and in addition to a long-acting insulin.
Intermediate-acting insulin: It starts working approximately 2 to 4 hours after injection and peaks approximately 4 to 12 hours later and continues to work for 12-18 hours. It is usually taken twice a day and in addition to a rapid- or short-acting insulin.
Long-acting insulin: It starts working after several hours after injection and works for approximately 24 hours. If necessary, it is often used in combination with rapid- or short-acting insulin.

Insulin can be given by a syringe, injection pen, or an insulin pump that delivers a continuous flow of insulin.

Your doctor will work with you to figure out which type of insulin is best for you depending on whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your blood sugar levels,and your lifestyle.

After you eat, cells in your pancreas are signaled to release insulin into the bloodstream.

The devastation looking back through the hour glass!

2019-03-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

A survivor means many things! But above all it means you have survived something that could have killed you.
Sharing information is great because it helps others and I needed a lot of help to make decisions that I knew nothing about. I was very lucky that cancer council and some ladies that had been through the same things shared their story. It’s great to listen to others, but also to take what you need from this.
Not all Information that is shared is good.
Looking glass looking back!
This year marks the 11 th anniversary of my second cancer! Sounds weird I would rather celebrate with something good. But guess what I am here that’s amazing!
Would I make the same choices! Not sure! Would I do the same things not sure!
Coming this far!
Fear no longer consumes my mind! Oh that’s ok pretty sure only a couple of years ago I panicked over everything and started imagining things that weren’t even there.
After the mastectomy I couldn’t feel my chest! This far in I still can’t. The skin has feeling but I have no feeling still. It’s a weird thing not to be able to still feel nothing. I can’t get used to this even now.
I thought in time it wouldn’t matter. But it does! No one gets this but you survivors know what I mean!
Dead chest hard to describe, nothing there if I bang into something it doesn’t hurt! That’s the weird thing my chest is dead.
#mastectomy #loss #survivor #iamstillawoman #lookingglass #fear

Nipple reconstruction the terror!

2019-03-24T04:54:00.000-07:00

I have kind of decided it’s pretty dumb to want nipple surgery! Can they replace it the same no. But has techlogy made it easier or harder!
Gee hard question!
I wanted my nipples back to be human and a women again!
Looking back it’s the stupidest thing I have ever done!
No nipples:
No bra
It costs a lot of money and I don’t think it’s worth it, they are gone now it’s time to accept the loss. As hard as it is.
I thought it would be great! Trying to get my body back, but the truth is our not coming back it’s gone and that has to be ok.
I guess it was do I get tattoos and try and look normal again! They do have some great tattoo nipples.
Well no I have accepted the new me but it comes with so many insecurities that I thought I was over.
It’s ok not to have them! It’s ok not to be ok. But I am ok my boyfriend at the time spent $10,000 on these nipples to make me feel good, he actually was fine with everything so why was I so desperate to replace something that’s gone!
Be happy with who you are! I put way too much pressure on what others thought.
Now I don’t care and it’s about time.
The scars have nearly gone this is 11 years since surgery. I am not sure though the mental scars will ever go! But if you help one person in this life avoid something bad that’s a good thing!
#notcaring #happiness #survivor #iamstillawomam #vanity #itsok #mastectomy #nipples

Big Game - movie of the week

2019-03-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

Thriller, action a great story and I got a few laughs. This is seriously the best movie I have seen in ages.
Worth a watch of course.
#movie #biggame #samuelljackson #felicityhuffman #president #movieoftheweek #worthawatch

Ground breaking cancer Carctol Capsule in India with Dr.Vipin Tiwari

2019-03-12T21:26:00.001-07:00

Sharing is caring and also very important to keep up with what’s happening in the world. Cancer news we see everyday!
This is something I am very very excited about :
Changing the future and also saving lives.
Sound too good to be true well it’s not the research that has gone into this product is brilliant.
Please check out Dr.Vipin Tiwari he is working in India.
I was really happy he contacted me to share this product.
So I want to share it also with you all.
The mission:

MISSION

"Our mission is to offer products as well as services of the
highest professional standards in order to make the whole world Cancer Free."

The people at Dr. Nandlal Tiwari Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. are focused on researching the power of ayurveda, bring up natural medicines & therapies and spread it all over the world for the benfit of mankind. We work hard to bring smiles on hopeless patients of Cancer.

With successful records in past and dedication of our employees we are confident to provide more beneficial medicines & therapies to patients and great manufacture and customer support satisfaction.

#drnandlaltiwari #carctol #survivor #changingthestats #brilliant #india #cancernews #cancer
Here is the website so you can see for your self.

http://www.carctol.in/

WHAT IS CARCTOL?

Carctol® is a gift of timeless knowledge of Ayurveda, the complete science of perfection in life specially to Cancer . Carctol® is a clinically proven herbal compound containing only natural , rare and precious herbs . These herbs are mixed together in precise proportional strength to balance & nourish the entire body system & strengthen immune system. Carctol have also helps cancer patients in their fight with cancer and also to combact the side effects of chemotherapy & radiotheray. Specially for cancer patients it is indicated.

CARCTOL has also been subjected to in-vitro study at Advanced Cancer Research Center of TATA, Mumbai against 14 types of human cancer cells out of which it was found effective against pancreatic and lung cancer. It was placed on record that CARCTOL is being used for treatment of cancer patients both in the country and abroad. After preparation of dossiers, multi-centric clinical trials will be conducted,” sources in the Council said.

All the herbs used in Carctol have been certified as anticancer by different countries. Apart from cancer all the herbs used in Carctol have immune enhancing properties.

Carctol is totally safe to consume, it is as safe as food. even a normal person can take carctol. Ideally for cancer patients CARCTOL is advised to be taken minimum for 60-90 days. Apart from its results on cancer it also boost the immune system & regain physical strength and normal body function over a period of time. Even after getting recovered by cancer, many patients take carctol as prophylaxis as it has no side effects and as safe as food & can be consumed even by a normal person as supplement.

CARCTOL® IS INDICATED IN -

1. Brain cancer, 2. Blood Cancer-CML/AML, 3. Non Hodking Lymphoma + TB, 4. Prostate along with bone metastasis, 5. Breast Cancer, 6. Colon & Rectal Cancer, 7. Abdomen Cancer, 8. Duodenum Cancer, 9. Liver cancer, 10. Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer, 11. Carcinoma of Testis, 12. Urinary bladder carcinoma, 13. Lung Cancer, 14. Melanoma, 15. Pancreatic Cancer, 16. Bladder & Prostate Cancer, 17. Bone cancer, 18. Carcinoma- Esophagus, 19. Ovary + Omentum CA cervix cancer, 20. Skin Cancer (Non- Melanoma), 21. Thyroid, 22. Throat & Nasopharynx cancer.

ADVANTAGES OF CARCTOL-

Oral Administration
Effective against multi-drug resistance
Well Tolerated
can be consumed prophylactialy
Also effective for those patients who are troubled by the side-effects of chemo-therapy and radiotherapy
Clinical studies have proven that our treatment is effective for all type of cancer and has shown great result on every stage of cancer.

CarctolÂ® is a general healer of all kinds of tumors. It also treats and removes all the symptoms and side effects caused by Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy.
Carctol is absolutely safe for human consumption.

Apart from its results on cancer it also boost the immune system & regain physical strength and normal body function over a period of time.

Quote of the day - Mario Andretti

2019-03-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

- Mario Andretti

#quoteoftheday #survivor #iamstillawoman #marioandretti

Quote of the day - George Sand

2019-01-27T13:34:00.001-08:00

There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved. George Sand. #quoteoftheday #georgesand #quotes #iamstillawoman #love

Genetic’s In family’s - knowing your history

2019-01-27T13:20:00.003-08:00

Here we are I made it and did it! I am the first girl on my grandfathers side of my mothers side to crack the don’t get over 53 mould!

I turned 54 - 2 weeks ago and I had a great party with family and friends.

I am so lucky 🍀

So we worked hard with my family in Cyprus doing the family tree and also Doctor Speigelman in Newcastle to find out what was happening, it’s not generally genetic this cancer can be just one of those things and our tree runs between ovarian and Breast cancer!

It can also skip generations - so in my family it was the first girl every generation - this put mum and I in the firing line.

My sisters, my grandfathers sisters were all pulled in to see who had the gene. My grandfathers sister Helen had breast cancer so she was pulled in first she didn’t have the gene. So she was one of 6 who just get it. My sisters were completely clear!

Genetics is changing so if you are worried it’s a good test to have. They are brilliant with their technology.

But really important the elders of the family are the best to find out your family tree medical history!

My mum died at 53 ovarian

Skipped my grandfather as a boy was eldest here! Beware men can also get breast cancer and be a carrier for it,

Her grandmother 52 breast.

So we tracked 6 generations back all woman’s problems they callled it back then.

While it never changes my voyage. I mapped it out for my children, my family and the family in the future.

Prevention is better than cure.

#survivor #imadeit #proud #fighter #genetics #iamstillawoman

50 shades of Grey - Phoebe Mack

2019-01-12T04:11:00.001-08:00

Hi !
I am Pheobe Mack
Nina’s life long friend.
Please I am not taking over! I am a friend in need when a friend in deed!
We have been friends all our lives- yep I am 3 months younger than the gorgeous Nina - Ann McCurley.
Our parents were friends in rhe day. Nina was the apple of her godparents eyes!
That’s where I come in relatives of the old family!
I lived in Goulburn for a short time. As a child and an only child I had a dream!
Me today single no kids a great corporate job and a long failed relationship with a German man who let me down!
Ok your saying who cares! I do and maybe you do but are you too afraid to say!
Why do we form friendships that stay forever! Let me tell tou why! Because great friendships last for ever and ever! What is trust and friendships it’s special and hard to find. Nina and I have that bond. Though thick and thin we have each other’s back always!
I am not taking over here. I just want to share our story!
Guess what most of you know it, but if you don’t here it goes!
Nina born January 1965
Me April 1965 - our parents not related but I guess we are blood sisters!
Nina a gorgeous blonde - like today still
Me a whinging brunette crying never happy!
Ha ha ha still today our personalities are the same.
The gorgeous Nina an inspiration to the world!
Me a quiet pathetic achiever that is single no kids and private.
Nina Jesus I wanted her life forever-
Why??????
Just because I admired here Always and I stop do
My story of us stay tuned!
The legend and sliding doors of 2 beautiful girls growing up together.
The sisters from another mother!
Yep let’s do This stay tuned!!
My name is Pheobe Mack
#ninamccurley #sisterlylove# #iamstillawoman #mybesrfriend #survivor

Mental Health Australia! RIP Annalise

2019-01-07T17:12:00.005-08:00

RIP Annalise Braakensiek, sad news at Potts Point Sydney yesterday 7th January. Suicide of a 46 year old celebrity.
Passing thoughts and love to friends and family at this very sad time!
If you see someone suffering don’t forget R U Ok? It can change a life!
#depressionsucks #annalise #RIP #mentalhealth #iamstillawoman #Braakensiek

Friends and former castmates have paid tribute to Annalise Braakensiek, remembering the late TV personality as a "sweet and bright soul".

Braakensiek, who had recently discussed her battle with depression, was found dead in her Sydney home on Sunday, aged 46.

Paul Fenech, who had cast Braakensiek in his Logie-nominated series Pizza in 2000, called her death a "sad loss".

"Annalise was a great person to work with. Never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was caring and, unlike many models, beautiful on the inside," Fenech wrote in a Facebook post.

"I don't know how or why she passed away, but the world has lost a very sweet and bright soul."

Movie of the week! schindlers list

2019-01-07T17:02:00.001-08:00

Liam Neeson is one of my favourite actors! He is brilliant
This movie is based on a true story! Fabulous watch.
My friend Jeff and I did a marathon movie day! This movie is a must watch.
Businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) arrives in Krakow in 1939, ready to make his fortune from World War II, which has just started. After joining the Nazi party primarily for political expediency, he staffs his factory with Jewish workers for similarly pragmatic reasons. When the SS begins exterminating Jews in the Krakow ghetto, Schindler arranges to have his workers protected to keep his factory in operation, but soon realizes that in so doing, he is also saving innocent lives.

#oskarschindler #kindess #nogoodcomesofwar #liamneeson #iamstillawoman #schindlerslist #hero

New year! New adventure

2019-01-03T13:13:00.002-08:00

How exciting this is it! The new year! I hope you all have an amazing list of things to do this year!
Looking around my life it’s such a great and exciting voyage. Gorgeous family and friends so much to look forward to.
We have bands, dinners and trips all over the place. So it’s going to be a big year!
What ever your voyage hoping you have health, wealth and happiness. Without your health you haven’t got much. So wishing you all a fantastic year!
Let’s get started on that! Yay
Happy new year!
#happynewyear #2019 #yay #happines #health #iamstillawoman #survivor

Quote of the day - Les Brown

2018-12-28T14:20:00.001-08:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY #quoteoftheday #iamstillawoman #great #love #survivor #lesbrown

"You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great." - Les Brown

RIP Penny Cook - Australia’s Sad loss

2018-12-27T12:50:00.002-08:00

We loved her and she was way to young to leave this life!
Cancer an awful disease that takes too many.
#cancer #iamstillawoman #pennycook #acountrypractice #rip #lifeisshort

Australian actor Penny Cook, best known for her long-running role in A Country Practice, has died at the age of 61.

The death of the actor, who won multiple Logies and most recently appeared in the ABC hospital drama Pulse, was confirmed by her management in a statement on Thursday.

Penny Cook in 2016.

Photo: Supplied

"It is with great sorrow that her family wish to advise that the much-loved Penny Cook, beloved partner, mother, daughter, sister, and dear friend, died peacefully last night, of cancer, surrounded by family," the statement read.

"The family wish to express their thanks for all messages of condolence forwarded to them."

Cook was propelled into the Australian consciousness via A Country Practice, in which she played vet Vicky Dean from 1981-1985.

Blood spots in pregnancy is this normal?

2018-12-23T18:36:00.001-08:00

Well in 1989 I was at ceramics with a girlfriend! I was 19.5 weeks pregnant, Mary and I had been doing these Wednesday morning classes for months. It was our fun, and one of our hobbies! I know it sounds very old lady!! Lol 😂 but we loved it.
Mary dropped me home at around 12.15 pm.
I went to the toilet there is was spots of red red blood.
I panicked as you do I called my bestie Deanne I had remembered she had bleeding about the same time with her first daughter. Deanne lives in Queensland now. Back then she lived a Greenpoint which is on the central Coast where I still live. It’s was about a 20 minute drive. She said coming to get you let’s see doctor. What a great friend. She had Stephanie with her she was 18 months old at that time.
Got to my gyno about 2 pm.
She dropped me off to meet Ian. I will never forget that awful day.
It’s like a nightmare.
It was so busy but he made me an ultrasound appointment.
As you know from reading unfortunately it wasn’t to be!
But lots of times it’s ok!
Really just go to the doctor and check it out. Always worth checking it out. It might be nothing.
#bleeding #pregnancy #scarey #checitout #doctor #cancer #iamstillawoman

Movie of the month - Bohemian Rhapsody

2018-12-19T16:44:00.000-08:00

Girls movie time was great!
Kaye chose Bohemian Rhapsody. Not only the perfect movie, it’s fantastic we hit this little Asian place on the way to Tuggerah it was amazing food.
Lots of feelings in this movie, great music and great acting!
Best afternoon out!
Don’t miss it on the big screen #bohemianrhapsody #freddymercury #bestmovie #lovequeen #queen #iamstillawoman #Survivor #legacy
http://www.noise11.com/news/bohemian-rhapsody-becomes-the-highest-grossing-biopic-of-all-time-20181217

Xmas Salad - Mango

2018-12-19T15:23:00.002-08:00

It’s going to be hot Xmas day. In Australia this is our thing!
I love Jamie Oliver’s Mango Salad
It’s beautiful 😍
Here it is- it will be one of 3 salads on my Xmas feast this year!
It’s a beauty, hot weather and recipe of December I think.
Enjoy 😉
#jamieoliver #mangosalad #xmassalad #mango #iamstillawoman #fambam #feast #lovexmas

mango salad jamie oliver

Peel and destone the mango and avocado, then roughly chop or slice the flesh, along with the tomatoes. In a large bowl, toss them with the lime zest and juice, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.

It’s beginning to cost a lot like Xmas - but how fun is it

2018-12-19T15:14:00.001-08:00

Wow where did the year go! No idea.

The best time of the year is upon us, very exciting friends and family time. The Xmas tree is beautiful presents all ready for our big day.

I am having 15 people for dinner so I am pretty excited, I am thrilled to share my home with friends and family as we all are!

It’s an amazing time of giving and being thankful. I have a gorgeous family that I adore and friends that are precious.

So what’s on the menu at mine this year! I am doing my Turkey Pork and duck on my bbq like last year! It’s so amazing those beautiful smells will be around the farm this year again.

I will be up early like we all do to prepare this Amazing buffet.

You should see my Decore like yours it’s truly amazing.

Well all the fam bam favourites and more. I love the laughter at the table and the wonderful spirit Xmas brings. The memories we make are a treasure!

Remember as children going to bed so excited 😆 in anticipation of Santa!

I am so lucky this year! First Xmas of my little grandson he is the most amazing treasure. Guess what another rev head. I am so lucky to have him and my awesome family,

Whatever your doing this year! I hope you enjoy the life, the fun, ohhh and of course the gifts.

#xmas #xmastree #memories #santa #iamstillawoman #yayxmas #presents #amazinglife

The silkie chicken - Xmas present surprise

2018-12-18T14:05:00.003-08:00

I have amazing friends! Had them all my life, but this one of my friends that has just been around 3 years wanted to buy my a Xmas present! Something special, so Sunday afternoon I got told be home!
At 3 pm I will be there!
Ha ha what does he mean??
Well what a great surprise and present the most gorgeous silkie chicken mum, the Wyong shite show winner she is divine! Also her two babies!
I was so happy and thrilled I just fell in love 😍 straight away!
The farm is growing and it’s the best life ever! Animals are the best! You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat Animals.
Isn’t that the best present!
Thank you so much Jeff!
#friends #greatfriends #sharingthejoy #animals #lovemyfarm #perfectlife #purebliss #iamstillawoman #jeffspressie #xmasjoy #mygirls #silkie
#peckingorder

2019 looking forward! Exciting

2018-12-18T13:54:00.001-08:00

The year of the pig, 2019!
Ha ha love it! I love pigs 🐖 but there is none of them human ones in my life anymore.
Yay!
I actually would love a pot belly pig for my farm though!
Ok what coming for next year!
I have so much happening as you all probably do!
#muchlove #2019 #love #happiness #friendships #iamstillawoman #yearofthepig #pig
Here is the forecast
2019 is a great year to make money, and a good year to invest! 2019 is going to be full of joy, a year of friendship and love for all the zodiac signs; an auspicious year because the Pig attracts success in all the spheres of life.

If you are born in the year of the pig is looking especially good for you.
Professionally, the Pig’s year is one of progress. Using their talents and experience, the Pig natives are going to make a good impression, due to which they will make a few steps forward.

At the same time, having an ingenious, sharp mind, capable of interesting ideas, the Pig natives are advised to use it. In 2019, the Pig natives could make full use of their two great qualities: the entrepreneurial spirit and the talent for making money.

Quote of the day - Zig Ziglar

2018-12-18T13:44:00.003-08:00

You will get all you want in life, if you help enough people get what they want!

Zig Ziglar

#quoteoftheday #survivor #zigziglar #iamstillawoman #quote #inspiration #bestlife

The brave face - the cancer mask

2018-12-16T16:13:00.001-08:00

Cancer sufferers the brave face they put on when they are torn apart, there are many faces!
The mask of sadness
The mask of tough
The mask of melting
The mask of why me??
The mask of leave me alone
The mask of fear
The mask of fake happy
The mask of I can do this
The mask of help meeeee
Yep, scarey isn’t it! Lots of masks 🎭 lots of courage,
You try stay up a thought a memory or anything can push you a little further down.
The mask you need to wear is the I can beat this mask. It’s a tough one to wear! I through mine out a few times! Only because I was scared.
So don’t take it too heart ❣ if your family member or friend is going through this crazy mask changining ceremony, it’s completely normal.
The roller coaster of life!
It’s not you they are mad at it’s just life!
Hold their hand! You can do this!
#themask #cancer #chamgingmasks #help #idontwanttodie #survivor #iamstillawoman

The support person of a cancer sufferer!

2018-12-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

When anyone man, woman or child get diagnosed with cancer the whole network is affected, the sufferer obviously is going through a lot. But what about the support person, the family and friends. It’s a really tough gig!
In a group I was running this week with men. I felt sorry for their journey! They are trying to be tough to support their wives, but it is hard. I can only imagine how hard this is. They feel helpless. They want to save their partners as you would but sadly they are in a bad spot. They can’t win, everything they do is wrong. They also feel intense fear because the person they love is suffering and there is not much they can do. If you have a friend going through this please try and have a coffe or drink with them. They also need help and support! It’s a fairly cruel voyage for everyone. Woman tend to have coffee and chat, but sadly men don’t seem to have this network. So kindness costs nothing and there are a lot of people wanting to help. But don’t know what to do, sometimes just a friend a face a conversation can help these people. This time of year especially because it’s not always a happy time. Especially if your sick or grieving.
So a little random act of kindness that you think may mean nothing, could be saving someone mental health.
Make a difference in someone’s life this week. Probably you already have and you didn’t even notice! Men are at a higher risk!
Hope this helps you all.
Have a great day 😉😘
#randomactsofkindess #helpinghand #cancer #iamstillawoman #reachout #kindnesscostsnothing
https://goo.gl/images/8kxaam

Sex in the suburbs! Part 1

2018-12-05T13:58:00.001-08:00

Sex sells there is no doubt about that! Look at everything around you! But what happens now romance is gone?
Is romance dead! Well it seems that way. But why??
Ok so let’s go back to what mums said. In the 60’s a time of free loving and parties. So can you remember back! Yep I was a 65 model meaning 1965. Remember the mini skirts - gee they seemed tame to this era. lol 😂 Funerals are a classic example we would have been murdered if we went to church looking like you were going to stand on a corner of Kings Cross!
But do they care anymore, probably not. Society has changed a lot.
Dating in the day. Dinner, movies or a picnic?? Gee it seems like an eternity ago.
Let’s use 4 ladies with our stories: similar to sex in the city - maybe or maybe not!
I am changing names here to protect all involved. But it’s great to share stories and the girls don’t mind but yep I am protecting all.
1. Sophie - like Samantha sex it the city (no strings no commitment doesn’t care)
2. Melanie - like Miranda sex in the city (great job looking for love all the wrong places)
3. Karen - like Carrie sex in the city (wanting a commitment)
4. Charlie - like Charlotte sex in the city (believes is fairytales)
All the girls are single! At the moment...

Part 1 :
Sophie
So Sophie shares the greates stories on one night stands. She doesn’t seem to care for details just racking up the numbers so to speak! Do I think deep down she will settle down no way!
Her dates!
I love this is kinda cute. Men and woman think differently although I can’t say who plays more games as both sexed certainly are afraid of getting hurt.
Sophie dates quick! Really only sex related. She likes the young ones as she is claims not to like the older man body. Sophie is or could be the hand that rocks the cradle. She thinks a romp or 2 with younger generation is a thing. She has 2 children a boy and girl! They don’t know their mother plays these games when they are with their Dad. That’s a good thing. Sophie is mid 40’s claims time is running out and age is up to play’ a pure party animal! Lots of fun to go out with. Expect the unexpected they say! Yep I never know what may happen here.
But you could say she won’t leave with the group the game is pick up!
It’s not a game to her and she is having fun. So as they say if your happy what’s the problem.
Everyone is entitled to live their life there way!
To be continued.......
#sexinthesuburbs #partygirls #fun #iamstillawoman #datingormating