I Wrote You a Letter

 

Hi there! It’s Jan James. I’m SO glad you found your way here.  I want to tell you about Hope After Breast Cancer. But first, let me tell you my story.

I was diagnosed and treated for IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma, if you had a different set of letters) eight years ago.  ER+, PR-, HER2+. Too many surgeries to count.

We’re the same, you and me.

When we heard those words, everything changed.

Everything.

You have CANCER.

But let’s get real.

Nobody told us.

We weren’t warned.

We weren’t prepared.

We had to learn a new language.

Our worlds were quickly ruled by cancer.

Our lives were no longer being lived on our own terms.

We did what they told us to save our lives.

And then … the aftermath.

It’s as if a GIANT bull came into the china shop of our lives and left destruction in every aspect of our worlds.

As time has gone on, people have told us, “You look great!” “I’m so glad you’re doing well!”

But our looks don’t tell the whole story.

And are we REALLY doing “well”?

We’re wounded.

We’re hurting.

We might even be suffering.

About our self-image.

About our self-esteem.

About the fear of recurrence.

About how cancer has affected relationships in our lives.

About SO many things.

We can’t figure out how to reconcile losing our old lives and accepting our “new” ones when we never asked for anything to change.

We’re weary of the systemic and chronic pain many of us feel every single day.

Anything resonating with you yet?

And let’s talk about the elephant in the BEDROOM.

For many of us, arousal was totally tied to the breasts we no longer have.

For many of us, we feel like damaged goods. So it’s hard for us to even think about showing our bodies to our partners.

For many of us, putting ANYTHING in our vaginas feels like being ripped apart by glass shards.

For many of us, we’ve either gone through medically induced menopause or chronological menopause along the way.

All of that, combined, with the ravages of treatment, has caused gynecological devastation.

Here’s the deal.

We’re now part of a club we never asked to join.

And with membership in that club come myriad residual issues.

We usually aren’t even talking about these unseen issues because we think we’re the only one experiencing them.

These are issues that affect every part of us …. Our heart, our mind, our body, our spirit.

And none of the professionals we work with seem to have answers.

Does that mean … there aren’t any?

Here’s where I’m at.

I’m a builder.

And a connector.

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE AREN’T ANSWERS FOR US.

So I’m doing something about it.

I built this website for YOU.

For US.

HopeAfterBreastCancer.com.

I’m bringing together doctors, counselors, authors, coaches, and other experts to give our community professional input about the issues we face.

And I’m curating information from around the globe from reputable resources about the answers we need to know.

And I’m building a huge community of women who have experienced breast cancer and are committed to healing their unseen wounds.

TOGETHER we’re going to find the answers we’re looking for and support one another as we heal and grow.

We are NOT meant to be just survivors.

We are meant to be THRIVERS.

But what does it mean to “thrive”?

What do you need to learn?

Wouldn’t it be great if it were simple?

If all of the trouble in your life caused by breast cancer could be explained because you simply didn’t have ONE critical piece of information?

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

And it takes time.

But let me give you a better, more encouraging piece of information. Something I ABSOLUTELY know to be true about you.

You’re one of the “chosen ones.” A woman with the potential to reclaim your life after breast cancer and create a life of abundance and joy and happiness and significance and love.  

How do I know?

Because you found your way here.

Because despite no one talking about what you felt deep in your soul, that you kept searching.

Despite your doubts, your fears and all the naysayers you met along the way, you kept looking.

You never gave up.

You still BELIEVE.

And believing, my friend, is the most important thing there is.

That’s how I know you’re going to turn hope into reality.

That’s how I know you have FULL POWER to reclaim your life after breast cancer.

And I’m going to point the way.

Let’s do this!

TOGETHER.

 

Striving to thrive!

Jan

xoxox