Pink Ribbon Stories: A Celebration of Life. Tammy Miller
life as a Pennsylvania state official and mother of two college-age daughters, I quickly learned this major health issue would refocus my passion and calling. After barely escaping death twice from this devastating disease, I had a renewed sense of giving others the valuable gift of life. After a long, rough recovery, I plunged back in with immense enthusiasm. My stumbling blocks had become stepping stones. Thankfully, with the love and support from great family, friends and a fabulous medical team, I launched the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition in 1993 to educate, advocate, support and help others. Our goal is simple, “to find a cure now, so our daughters and granddaughters don’t have to.”
“Pink Ribbon Stories” offers hope and healing for those of us living with breast cancer. It is an exceptional resource guide filled with extraordinary spotlights on individuals and families. It certainly is a must-read for anyone who is fighting the disease or has a loved one afflicted. Thank you, Tammy, for this amazing and encouraging book. It underscores not to sweat the small stuff, that breast cancer isn’t the end, to be grateful for each new day, count our blessings, lean on others, and NEVER give up! Yes, we all acquire strength in this journey, so make it count!
Pat Halpin-Murphy, breast cancer survivor
President & Founder
PA Breast Cancer Coalition
Reflections
Tammy A. Miller
Like many people in this book, my story as a survivor started when my doctor said the words we never want to hear, “Tammy, it is breast cancer”.
Another one of my books, The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer Recovery: Lessons Learned Along the Path to Healing, details the entire journey so I won’t try to duplicate it here. Instead, I will share a few words about my personal journey and some of the things I have learned as we walked through this incredible book project.
My Journey…
My personal journey began on September 14, 2001. I had noticed a change in my breast and we all know the saying, “if I only knew then what I know now!” I thought there was something different going on but when I went to the doctor and saw the physician’s assistant, she wasn’t concerned at all – the first thing – know your own body! Since it was close to the time for my mammogram anyway, I pushed her to have one done.
The experience was a familiar one to many people in this book. I get a mammogram and they call me back for more films because they “see something”.
When I went back for the follow-up, the radiologist described what he saw and told me that even if he did a needle biopsy he wouldn’t trust the results and he recommended I see a surgeon for a surgical biopsy.
Enter Dr. B! Dr. B is a man I had seen briefly a few years before, but I didn’t know him very well. That was about to change! He turned out to be a wonderful doctor who became the head of my Humor Team (yes, clown noses, kazoos, and rubber chickens!) and was the man I credit with saving my life!
You may be wondering about the Humor Team and the other items listed, well, at the time I was a very active professional clown known in my area as Hugz the Clown. As is the case with any well-stocked clown, I was armed with all of the above mentioned equipment, and a few other crazy things.
I firmly believe that we cannot always change what happens to us in life, but we can control how we respond to any given situation. I don’t ever want people to think I am making fun of anyone with cancer, I am just choosing the best response I could, given the situation. For me, I knew I could not change the cancer diagnosis, no matter how hard I tried, but I had complete control over the attitude I brought to the healing process, and that was going to include humor.
There is a great deal of research indicating the positive, healthy effects of humor and a positive attitude in the healing process. The research isn’t just for cancer but also for heart disease and other life challenges. In most cases, recovery is faster and better.
I had three surgeries along my path to healing and each one included clown noses, kazoo send-offs, and a few rubber chickens here and there. There were strange nipple send-of parties, with very interesting cakes (and strategically placed Hershey kisses), go ahead, use your imagination and you are probably right on!
I took notes of everything that was happening. I did this for a couple of reasons, first, I believe that when you are diagnosed with breast cancer, or any life threatening illness, you feel like your whole world is spinning out of control. You may feel that your body has betrayed you; I know I did, and writing everything down that was happening somehow made me feel like I had more control. I know, I didn’t but the perception helped!
Some people journal their thoughts and feelings, and I was taking notes because I felt I could turn the situation into a book that might help others, much like this book will help others on their path to healing.
Throughout my journey I identified a few lessons that I learned along my path to healing. There were twenty in total, and I will share those lessons here:
Lesson One – Don’t put off your yearly exams. Make the call – schedule the appointment.
Lesson Two – Trust your own instincts.
Lesson Three – Keep a record of everything that is happening.
Lesson Four – Develop a personal mantra to replace negative thoughts.
Lesson Five – Recruit your personal Humor Team! (No cost involved!)
Lesson Six – Be prepared to put up your own personal shield of protection.
Lesson Seven – Start and keep a “Recovery File”.
Lesson Eight – Find love and laughter everywhere.
Lesson Nine –Tell your closest family and friends of your diagnosis in person.
Lesson Ten – Be informed!
Lesson Eleven – Remain positive in every single way that you can – no matter how small.
Lesson Twelve - Write down the questions that you want to ask.
Lesson Thirteen – Look for the smallest blessings in each day.
Lesson Fourteen – Know that you have choices.
Lesson Fifteen – Remember, you are a unique person!
Lesson Sixteen – Celebrate the smallest victories.
Lesson Seventeen – Accept that there are some things in life we cannot change.
Lesson Eighteen – Keep your doctors and health care providers accountable.
Lesson Nineteen – Thank your healthcare providers.
Lesson Twenty – Live life to the fullest!
Except from: The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer Recovery: Lessons Learned Along the Path to Healing - Tammy A. Miller, Lighthearted Press
There is so much happening when you are faced with this type of a health challenge and for me, identifying the lessons that I learned was very helpful as it made me feel like I had some control.
I believe all of these lessons are important, but a few especially stand out, like trusting your own instincts; finding the humor in every situation, remembering that you cannot always change what is happening; having a personal mantra (thought, prayer, saying, etc.) in your head because you can only have one thought at a time and you get to choose – you may as well make it positive; be informed; write down your questions; look for every blessing and remain positive; know that you DO have choices; and finally, live life to the fullest!
My life is truly blessed with wonderful family and friends and I am very thankful that I did not go through this alone. Above all, I know that none of us are truly alone, but we have the love of the mighty Lord to guide our steps – for me, I just need to remember to listen!
I truly cannot say that every day on my healing journey was grins and giggles, but I can say there