{"id":1172,"date":"2022-05-31T08:42:36","date_gmt":"2022-05-30T20:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/?p=1172"},"modified":"2022-05-31T09:14:15","modified_gmt":"2022-05-30T21:14:15","slug":"blog-9-what-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/blog-9-what-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog 9 &#8211; What now?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1172\" class=\"elementor elementor-1172\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-72084974 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"72084974\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7d83a0d7\" data-id=\"7d83a0d7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a449a7e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a449a7e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec0dd42\" data-id=\"ec0dd42\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b35cd9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8b35cd9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 20-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What now?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-38e72c2 elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"38e72c2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2ed8102\" data-id=\"2ed8102\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a931797 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a931797\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 20-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1379\" height=\"937\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Loving-exploring-on-my-eBike-May-2022.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1174\" alt=\"Marie on her eBike\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Loving-exploring-on-my-eBike-May-2022.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Loving-exploring-on-my-eBike-May-2022-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Loving-exploring-on-my-eBike-May-2022-1024x696.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Loving-exploring-on-my-eBike-May-2022-768x522.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1379px) 100vw, 1379px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-182cc1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"182cc1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 20-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Loving exploring on my eBike. May 2022.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8a5170 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a8a5170\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"451\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-Breast-Cancer-Fund-raiser-PN.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1203\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-Breast-Cancer-Fund-raiser-PN.jpg 451w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-Breast-Cancer-Fund-raiser-PN-300x135.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c64a1fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c64a1fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Speaking at Breast Cancer Foundation high tea in Palmerston North. May 2022<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-468783c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"468783c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1209\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022.jpg 1379w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed50a81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ed50a81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Learning new skills. May 2022<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bb763e7\" data-id=\"bb763e7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-610c8a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"610c8a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 20-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-accordion{text-align:left}.elementor-accordion .elementor-accordion-item{border:1px solid #d5d8dc}.elementor-accordion .elementor-accordion-item+.elementor-accordion-item{border-top:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title{margin:0;padding:15px 20px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon{display:inline-block;width:1.5em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon svg{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon.elementor-accordion-icon-right{float:right;text-align:right}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon.elementor-accordion-icon-left{float:left;text-align:left}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon .elementor-accordion-icon-closed{display:block}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon .elementor-accordion-icon-opened,.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-accordion-icon-closed{display:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-accordion-icon-opened{display:block}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-content{display:none;padding:15px 20px;border-top:1px solid #d5d8dc}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title{padding:12px 15px}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon{width:1.2em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-content{padding:7px 15px}}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-accordion,.e-con>.elementor-widget-accordion{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1011\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1011\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-ribbon\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M6.1 444.3c-9.6 10.8-7.5 27.6 4.5 35.7l68.8 27.9c9.9 6.7 23.3 5 31.3-3.8l91.8-101.9-79.2-87.9-117.2 130zm435.8 0s-292-324.6-295.4-330.1c15.4-8.4 40.2-17.9 77.5-17.9s62.1 9.5 77.5 17.9c-3.3 5.6-56 64.6-56 64.6l79.1 87.7 34.2-38c28.7-31.9 33.3-78.6 11.4-115.5l-43.7-73.5c-4.3-7.2-9.9-13.3-16.8-18-40.7-27.6-127.4-29.7-171.4 0-6.9 4.7-12.5 10.8-16.8 18l-43.6 73.2c-1.5 2.5-37.1 62.2 11.5 116L337.5 504c8 8.9 21.4 10.5 31.3 3.8l68.8-27.9c11.9-8 14-24.8 4.3-35.6z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-ribbon\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M6.1 444.3c-9.6 10.8-7.5 27.6 4.5 35.7l68.8 27.9c9.9 6.7 23.3 5 31.3-3.8l91.8-101.9-79.2-87.9-117.2 130zm435.8 0s-292-324.6-295.4-330.1c15.4-8.4 40.2-17.9 77.5-17.9s62.1 9.5 77.5 17.9c-3.3 5.6-56 64.6-56 64.6l79.1 87.7 34.2-38c28.7-31.9 33.3-78.6 11.4-115.5l-43.7-73.5c-4.3-7.2-9.9-13.3-16.8-18-40.7-27.6-127.4-29.7-171.4 0-6.9 4.7-12.5 10.8-16.8 18l-43.6 73.2c-1.5 2.5-37.1 62.2 11.5 116L337.5 504c8 8.9 21.4 10.5 31.3 3.8l68.8-27.9c11.9-8 14-24.8 4.3-35.6z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Blog<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1011\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1011\"><p><strong>What now?<\/strong><\/p><p><em><strong>Not a question I can answer.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p>\u201cThis might not be a fair question \u2026 will the fact that I only had one of the six chemotherapy sessions affect my prognosis \u2026 shorten my life? \u201c<br \/>I was sitting in my Medical Oncologist\u2019s office for a routine follow-up; 5 months after my one &amp; only chemotherapy session in January. I was feeling vulnerable, not sure about recurrence of the cancer(s) and venturing out from under the close chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical surveillance I have been so accustomed to since July. From what I have read, surgery and chemotherapy are both required to improve the prognosis of those with triple negative breast cancer.<br \/>\u201cI know that you are really concerned about this Marie, but that\u2019s not a question I can answer. The intention of your mastectomy and clearance of those 29 lymph nodes was curative. The surgeons were confident, but of course no-one can be absolutely sure.\u201d<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1068\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/In-hospital.jpg\" alt=\"CT scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis showed no other malignancies. February 2022.\" width=\"622\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/In-hospital.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/In-hospital-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 622px) 100vw, 622px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>CT scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis showed no other malignancies. February 2022.<\/strong><\/p><p>I have felt very safe throughout my cancer journey; well-informed and supported and by a plethora of kind, expert health practitioners. Rebecca Carroll, my Medical Oncologist (aka chemotherapy specialist) seems to understand me well.<br \/>\u201cYou are going to have a mammogram every 12 months for the next 10 years and we are confident that we will pick up any further malignancy early\u201d.<br \/>\u201c10 years &#8230; that\u2019s a lot better than 5 years &#8230; I\u2019ll take that\u201d, was my first thought.<br \/>\u201cI would also like to start you on Zolendronic Acid.\u201d, she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a 6-monthly short intravenous infusion to help prevent any spread to your bones and also strengthen your bones. Letrozole can reduce bone strength over time. So you would have 4 doses of Zolendronic acid over the next 2 years. After that we will do another bone scan to see whether we need to change from Letrozole to Tamoxifin.\u201d<\/p><p><strong>Look Good Feel better<\/strong><\/p><p>I love the way Dr Carroll takes the sting out of a potential loss with the hope of another very practical strategy. And she is not the only one providing helpful and practical support. I have been attending live online video classes provided by the Look Good Feel Better team. This week\u2019s session was on skin care and make-up. Right on cue a courier knocked on our front door bringing a heavy parcel of free skin care and make-up products to use during the 1-hour online session. So very generous! Thank you to whoever donated these beautiful free skin care and make-up products.<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1180\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/All-makeup-for-the-session-provided-free-delivered-to-our-front-door-May-2022..jpg\" alt=\"All makeup for the session provided free &amp; delivered to our front door! May 2022.\" width=\"1379\" height=\"794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/All-makeup-for-the-session-provided-free-delivered-to-our-front-door-May-2022..jpg 1379w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/All-makeup-for-the-session-provided-free-delivered-to-our-front-door-May-2022.-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/All-makeup-for-the-session-provided-free-delivered-to-our-front-door-May-2022.-1024x590.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/All-makeup-for-the-session-provided-free-delivered-to-our-front-door-May-2022.-768x442.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1379px) 100vw, 1379px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>All makeup for the session provided free &amp; delivered to our front door! May 2022.<\/strong><\/p><p>The host Frankie, facilitating from her caravan at Pukehina Beach, took us all through the full routine of cleansing, toning, moisturising, foundation &amp; concealer, blusher, eye liner and eye shadow, lip lining and lipstick. It was the most interesting and interactive Zoom session I have ever participated in. We learnt how to enhance sparse eyebrows or loss of eyelashes following chemotherapy, to help us feel like ourselves again. Given that I am not a make-up person, I now have the whole kit of high- quality make-up chosen especially for me and matched to my skin tone. The classes include: brow focus, headwear and scarf tying, hand and nailcare, managing hair loss and regrowth, wigs and headwear, and dealing with worry. Such valuable and practical support during our recovery journey. I am feeling spoilt and very grateful.<\/p><p><strong>Time for giving back<\/strong><\/p><p>I felt honored to be the keynote speaker at a Breast Cancer Foundation high tea and silent auction last weekend in Palmerston North. There were 4 or 5 brave men in the overwhelmingly female audience. There seemed to be high interest in learning more about breast cancer and a first-hand insight into the experience. As I scanned those attentive faces I couldn\u2019t help thinking that several of those women and men in the audience would probably be completely unaware that their breasts (or prostate glands) are hosting malignancies that have yet to be detected. And will they go for their routine screening? Men can have breast cancer too. When I had my routine mammogram last July I was completely unaware of the Grade 1 infiltrative ductal carcinoma that was seen as a tiny spot in the upper outer quadrant of my right breast; and even more sinister, the highly malignant triple negative breast cancer that had already infiltrated 2 of the 29 lymph nodes that were later surgically removed.<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1189\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-the-recent-Breast-Cancer-Foundation-high-tea-in-Palmerston-North.-May-2022..jpg\" alt=\"Speaking at the recent Breast Cancer Foundation high tea in Palmerston North. May 2022.\" width=\"371\" height=\"596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-the-recent-Breast-Cancer-Foundation-high-tea-in-Palmerston-North.-May-2022..jpg 371w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-the-recent-Breast-Cancer-Foundation-high-tea-in-Palmerston-North.-May-2022.-187x300.jpg 187w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Speaking at the recent Breast Cancer Foundation high tea in Palmerston North. May 2022.<\/strong><\/p><p>I wanted to authentically share my journey and had 9 or 10 photos up on the big screen to illustrate different aspects of my 10-month experience. In one of the photos I am posing happily on my eBike, enjoying being immersed in the beautiful countryside surrounding Napier. What the slide doesn\u2019t show is that I had just had diarrhoea (thank goodness for the toilet on board our motorhome) and anticipated that I probably had about an hour before the next one. I would have already prepared the bikes and said to Jim, \u201cOK, quick \u2026 let\u2019s go. We\u2019ve got an hour to explore\u201d. Facebook photos never tell the full story! But having said that, my very bad experience with chemotherapy and nasty sequelae, was the only really low point in an otherwise well-supported experience. My Radiology Oncologist (aka radiotherapy specialist) tells me it may take another 6-8 weeks to feel \u201cnormal\u201d again. I try every day to make the most of whatever energy surfaces and to welcome the increasing breaks from fatigue, racing, irregular heart beat and overactive bowel. Life is getting much easier.<\/p><p>My most important message during my presentation was that what you think about really matters. Right from the first diagnosis I felt a divine nudging in my Spirit that this cancer experience was a gift. I didn\u2019t really understand what that meant. Whilst I was shocked by the initial diagnosis, I was certain that this was God speaking to me; giving me the courage and calmness to face whatever was coming. It has been amazing to look at my life through another lens; to acknowledge discomfort, disappointment and worry, but not let them dominate my thinking. I have come to really appreciate the power of redirecting unhelpful rumination and the need to focus on things that are authentic and real, beautiful, pure, merciful and kind, as instructed to do in Philippians 4:3-4 in the Bible. This passage says not to be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing; to offer faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. The consequence of doing this is a peace that \u201ctranscends human understanding\u201d. I know this is true, because I am following this way and am experiencing real peace and calmness in the face of considerable challenges right now. For me, being grateful is the key to unlocking a more positive and optimistic future.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Click on &#8220;The Gift&#8221; below to read about the gifts Marie has identified&#8230;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1012\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1012\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-ribbon\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M6.1 444.3c-9.6 10.8-7.5 27.6 4.5 35.7l68.8 27.9c9.9 6.7 23.3 5 31.3-3.8l91.8-101.9-79.2-87.9-117.2 130zm435.8 0s-292-324.6-295.4-330.1c15.4-8.4 40.2-17.9 77.5-17.9s62.1 9.5 77.5 17.9c-3.3 5.6-56 64.6-56 64.6l79.1 87.7 34.2-38c28.7-31.9 33.3-78.6 11.4-115.5l-43.7-73.5c-4.3-7.2-9.9-13.3-16.8-18-40.7-27.6-127.4-29.7-171.4 0-6.9 4.7-12.5 10.8-16.8 18l-43.6 73.2c-1.5 2.5-37.1 62.2 11.5 116L337.5 504c8 8.9 21.4 10.5 31.3 3.8l68.8-27.9c11.9-8 14-24.8 4.3-35.6z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-ribbon\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M6.1 444.3c-9.6 10.8-7.5 27.6 4.5 35.7l68.8 27.9c9.9 6.7 23.3 5 31.3-3.8l91.8-101.9-79.2-87.9-117.2 130zm435.8 0s-292-324.6-295.4-330.1c15.4-8.4 40.2-17.9 77.5-17.9s62.1 9.5 77.5 17.9c-3.3 5.6-56 64.6-56 64.6l79.1 87.7 34.2-38c28.7-31.9 33.3-78.6 11.4-115.5l-43.7-73.5c-4.3-7.2-9.9-13.3-16.8-18-40.7-27.6-127.4-29.7-171.4 0-6.9 4.7-12.5 10.8-16.8 18l-43.6 73.2c-1.5 2.5-37.1 62.2 11.5 116L337.5 504c8 8.9 21.4 10.5 31.3 3.8l68.8-27.9c11.9-8 14-24.8 4.3-35.6z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Gift<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1012\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1012\"><p><strong>What now? &#8211; The gift<\/strong><\/p><p>\u201cI am having a real problem with what you said on Saturday\u201d. My friend had attended the Breast Cancer Foundation high tea on Saturday and heard my story. \u201cBecause I don\u2019t think that cancer is a gift. I don\u2019t think God gives gifts like cancer\u201d he said.<br \/>\u201cThis gift of God to me is <strong>not the breast cancer<\/strong>, but the opportunities that it brings to take a whole new look at my life and see it from a different perspective. It is a transformative process\u201d, I replied. \u201cI have never had to lean into God and His promises, his goodness, his love, His written Word as I do now. Every day familiar scriptures in the Bible leap off the pages and open up new understanding of His love, His plans for my life, what I mean to Him; and a fresh understanding of the meaning of my life. The harder my circumstances get, the easier I find it to trust God with my life. This is my gift\u201d.<br \/>\u201cYes, well I had a good talk to my wife and told her I just couldn\u2019t understand how you could possibly have this view of cancer being God\u2019s gift to you\u201d he stated. \u201cShe told me to read your blogs; that I would gain a better understanding of how you are thinking and why you feel this way. I read your last one &#8230; number 8 I think it was\u201d. He drew in closer, obviously concerned and a little bewildered.<br \/>I advised him to read all of my blogs starting at number 1. \u201cI know this is difficult to accept or understand. It is hard to clearly convey the sense of peace and certainty that I have about this gift.&#8221;<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1203\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-Breast-Cancer-Fund-raiser-PN.jpg\" alt=\"Speaking at Breast Cancer Fund raiser PN\" width=\"451\" height=\"203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-Breast-Cancer-Fund-raiser-PN.jpg 451w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Speaking-at-Breast-Cancer-Fund-raiser-PN-300x135.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>I wondered how many of those listening have cancer that is not yet detected. May 2022.<\/strong><\/p><p>A friend shared a similar concern voiced by one of the women sitting at her table during my presentation. The woman just could not accept that God would or could give cancer as a gift. My friend understands that <strong>cancer is not the gift<\/strong>; it is the opportunity to view my life differently and to live with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. She suggested that I use my next blog to specifically identify and explain the powerful physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and relational benefits I am experiencing through this gift. Yes &#8230; I will do that next in Blog 10. I am amazed myself at how this journey is impacting positively on every aspect of my life.<\/p><p><strong>The gifts<\/strong><\/p><p>I keep being drawn back to Psalm 139. I just love this psalm in the Bible written by King David of Israel, probably by the 2nd century BC. The Passion translation brings it alive for me. In verses 13-18 Kind David writes, \u201cYou formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them together in my mother\u2019s womb. I thank you God for making me so mysteriously complex. Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it. How thoroughly you know me. You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place; carefully, skillfully you shaped me from nothing to something. You saw who you created me to be before I became me. Before I had ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. Every single moment you are thinking of me\u201d. I find it really comforting to think of God\u2019s incredible creativity and loving kindness towards me. He is simultaneously in my past, present and future. I don\u2019t have to worry about my future.<\/p><p>A friend gave me a scripture yesterday that she felt would be significant for me. The Good News translation of Isaiah 46:3-4 says, \u201cI have cared for you from the time you were born. I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is grey. I made you and I will care for you. I will give you help and rescue you.\u201d When I read that I felt my spirit leap with relief and awe &#8230; knowing that my journey ahead is going to be safe in God\u2019s incredible power and love. This is a beautiful gift of certainty that is emerging out of this cancer journey.<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/A-small-contribution-back-knitting-snoods-for-the-Cancer-Foundation-to-sell.-May-2022.jpg\" alt=\"A small contribution back, knitting snoods for the Cancer Foundation to sell. May 2022\" width=\"451\" height=\"374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/A-small-contribution-back-knitting-snoods-for-the-Cancer-Foundation-to-sell.-May-2022.jpg 451w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/A-small-contribution-back-knitting-snoods-for-the-Cancer-Foundation-to-sell.-May-2022-300x249.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>A small contribution back, knitting snoods for the Cancer Foundation to sell. May 2022<\/strong><\/p><p>As the rain and cold of winter set in it has been fun finding little things that I can do to give back to those who have done so much to support me. I am a bit of a novice at knitting, but am enjoying sitting snugged up under the lovely mohair rug my UCOL colleagues so generously gave me before my mastectomy last November. I have started knitting a snood for the Cancer Foundation to sell. It is cosey, calming and generative &#8230; I love that. I made a mistake last night while chatting to friends. I should have put it down but kept knitting, somehow hoping it would fix itself &#8230; that it was definitely the wrong thing to do! A friend is kindly going to sort me out today. Here&#8217;s another gift &#8230; the love and help of friends, and the opportunity to keep learning new skills.<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one.-May-2022.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1379\" height=\"1552\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one.-May-2022.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one.-May-2022-267x300.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one.-May-2022-910x1024.jpg 910w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one.-May-2022-768x864.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one.-May-2022-1365x1536.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1379px) 100vw, 1379px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Bill Davies teaching me to paint rocks. His is the brilliant red and orange one. May 2022<\/strong><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1209\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1379\" height=\"1839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022.jpg 1379w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Bill-Davies-teaching-me-to-paint-rocks.-His-is-the-brilliant-red-and-orange-one-2.-May-2022-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1379px) 100vw, 1379px\" \/><\/p><p>I am being drawn to painting rocks as a small way I can bring encouragement to people. I plan to paint cheerful designs on one side of the rocks and an encouraging saying or scripture on the other. I love looking for small painted rocks placed at the base or in the lower branches of trees, on fence posts or bench seats when I am out walking. Now I get the opportunity to plant rocks myself for other to find. I can be a blessing to others when out and about walking, biking, or in the motorhome. Another new gift uncovered through this cancer experience.<br \/>Coming up shortly in Blog 10, I will identify and explain some of the powerful physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and relational gifts arising from my cancer journey. I gratefully embrace them all.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What now? Loving exploring on my eBike. May 2022. Speaking at Breast Cancer Foundation high tea in Palmerston North. May 2022 Learning new skills. May 2022 Blog What now? Not a question I can answer. \u201cThis might not be a fair question \u2026 will the fact that I only had one of the six chemotherapy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1172"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1236,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172\/revisions\/1236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thegift.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}