tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post8740358333956753698..comments2022-11-21T04:30:43.476-08:00Comments on itsthebunk: An Open Letter To CJ Cornelliusen James, Co-Founder Of Metavivoritsthebunkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432578814737248136noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-21098266176249302472016-01-31T18:25:22.872-08:002016-01-31T18:25:22.872-08:00Thank you, Eileen!Thank you, Eileen!itsthebunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432578814737248136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-38333319850528640432016-01-30T21:29:22.004-08:002016-01-30T21:29:22.004-08:00And to Vickie, every time I read anything you writ...And to Vickie, every time I read anything you write, I think you're one of the most lovable people I haven't met. Thank you too. xoeileen@womaninthehathttp://www.womaninthehat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-57036109386383198752016-01-30T21:28:10.372-08:002016-01-30T21:28:10.372-08:00Liza, this is an excellent response. Thank you! Liza, this is an excellent response. Thank you! eileen@womaninthehathttp://www.womaninthehat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-87830786658727465362016-01-26T08:45:35.023-08:002016-01-26T08:45:35.023-08:00Hi Vickie, thank you for this thoughtful and infor...Hi Vickie, thank you for this thoughtful and informative response. I was supposed to attend that survivorship conference and am doubly sad as it would have been great to meet you. Thank you for reminding us of all of these issues. And yes, yes, absolutely yes we need you too! Hugs!itsthebunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432578814737248136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-18782327249003065992016-01-25T21:32:12.417-08:002016-01-25T21:32:12.417-08:00I just wrote a long response and lost it. Very ti...I just wrote a long response and lost it. Very tired, so I don't know if I'll make any sense. <br /><br />CJ's letter troubled me because it puts things in an either/or perspective. I attended a Cancer Suvivorship Conference last weekend and there's a lot more to surviving that simply finishing treatments. While the conference addressed all cancers, the breast cancer patient was used as a paradigm illustration. <br /><br />Cancer survival often has ramifications that play out for years and years. Cardiac issues, cognitive dysfunction, premature menopause, permanent infertility, chronic pain, depression, financial struggles, relationship issues, etc., etc., are not to be belittled. One may say, "But at least you're still alive to have those problems," but to say such a thing is to dismiss the reality of survival. <br /><br />I believe we can work on prevention of something while addressing treating something at the same time. For those who worked on a polio vaccine, there were others who continued working on treating those with polio. <br /><br />If we are to push metastatic disease into the chronic disease condition, we must know what that entails. It's a lot more than simply living longer. It's a full time job. <br /><br />While I'm incredibly jealous of my early stage friends who are currently NED, there's no way I want them to join my club. They are not welcome in my cancerland. However, their stories and their voices and more than welcome because they are the ones who will keep the banner flying once I'm gone. <br /><br />Thank you for sharing your story and for using your voice. We need you ... and I hope you need us as well. <br /><br />Shalom.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661314162393621928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-20312802939789528312016-01-25T12:23:12.362-08:002016-01-25T12:23:12.362-08:00PS: I can't find your Twitter handle - wanted ...PS: I can't find your Twitter handle - wanted to thank you on there for commenting here.:)itsthebunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432578814737248136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-55627445685072592372016-01-25T12:13:42.643-08:002016-01-25T12:13:42.643-08:00Hi Jane - I think I recognize you from Twitter, an...Hi Jane - I think I recognize you from Twitter, and indeed, if you are who I think you are, I noticed that I hadn't seen your tweets in a long time. Now I understand why. I am sorry to hear this. These walls serve no one. That is why I felt so compelled to write this letter. I hope we can all work together. And I am happy to know you are done with all treatment apart from tamoxifen :)itsthebunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432578814737248136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-29461442388688902552016-01-25T12:09:35.012-08:002016-01-25T12:09:35.012-08:00Thank you, Nancy.
I too have witnessed it up clo...Thank you, Nancy. <br /><br />I too have witnessed it up close, and just as you said, even if I hadn't, I too see us as one for all and all for one. <br /><br />That chat and that tweet from Rachel were a game changer for me: because before that I had encountered so much hostility from MBC patients (mostly at in-person support groups) for the one thing I had never had any control over: the fact that I was an early stager. Rachel opened her heart to me—I can't say it enough—and just by being herself, educated me, inspired me and helped give me a sense of purpose when I doubted myself as an advocate.itsthebunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432578814737248136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-43089683535321450322016-01-25T12:03:15.607-08:002016-01-25T12:03:15.607-08:00Thank you, Ann Marie. YES, I remember Seporah sayi...Thank you, Ann Marie. YES, I remember Seporah saying that. Thank you for reminding us all. That's exactly what Rachel embodied as well.itsthebunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432578814737248136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-36705724466379615312016-01-25T12:01:12.655-08:002016-01-25T12:01:12.655-08:00Thank you, Brandie :) We do!Thank you, Brandie :) We do!itsthebunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432578814737248136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-31221578849636212702016-01-25T10:07:36.670-08:002016-01-25T10:07:36.670-08:00I have slowly turned away from social media for su...I have slowly turned away from social media for support over the last year because of this. I'm tired of being told I don't get it because I'm a baby cancer survivor. I always thought we supported each other knowing someone will be there to carry on the fight when our mets sisters pass on and/or we join the mets group. Jane*iumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02970907419574333751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-46701301737933278172016-01-25T07:13:11.857-08:002016-01-25T07:13:11.857-08:00Hi Liza,
It's important to not build up more w...Hi Liza,<br />It's important to not build up more walls within our community, and I know that wasn't CJ's intent. Having said this, I agree with your points. While I am presently NED as well, I have witnessed the ugliness of mbc up close. And even if I hadn't, I like to think I'd still be advocating staunchly for my metster friends because no matter what stage we are or were, it truly is, one for all and all for one. Cliche, I know, but true nonetheless. And I remember that #bcsm chat. I will always remember our dear friend Rachel. Thank you for sharing some of her wisdom and yours as well. Nancy's Pointhttp://www.nancyspoint.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-22805706140579884882016-01-25T05:25:16.744-08:002016-01-25T05:25:16.744-08:00BAM this is perfection at it is best. And I suppor...BAM this is perfection at it is best. And I support Metavivor 100% but am done with the early stage vs mets. We are all in this together otherwise we have nothing behind us. Seporah used to say "be my voice because when I am gone no one will hear it any more". I took that to heart! Thank youAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03269842013225673516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8930924500348316000.post-45110883578771313552016-01-24T21:53:52.686-08:002016-01-24T21:53:52.686-08:00I agree with everything you've said.
We have ...I agree with everything you've said. <br />We have to work together if we're going to accomplish anything. Brandiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09181341595095947329noreply@blogger.com