One year later...March 2010

Hello Everyone,

It was August 21, 2009 when Cyndi finally had her last surgery for re-construction of her breast. For those of you who are following her post or mine here, you are aware she is cancer free now and God willing she will continue to be.

In looking back on our life since Cyndi was diagnosed with cancer I have to say we both have a better outlook on life. We often ask the question, "how does anyone go through such a traumatic experience without God's help?" We continue to ask the same question and find that it is impossible to do in our case. We truly hope if your a person reading this, and have never considered allowing God to help you through this time of hardship, please do so now. It will make all the difference for you and your loved one. I would be happy to share with you how this works, and what to expect once you decide to do so. It is always our pleasure to share with you Cyndi's experience with fighting this cancer, living without being afraid of this disease returning, and what to do if it does.

We are so thankful for this site and many others like it that are here for you, the person that needs to know what to expect if the word "cancer" ever comes into your life unexpectedly.

For now, we are happy to say, life is moving on in the right direction. God is a loving and wonderful person who cares, and has blessed us so much.

Thank you all for your continued prayers,

Bob & Cyndi Sloop

This husband's "perspective" looks good!

As I am writing this to many men who someday might read this post, I want you to know things will get better. After all the surgery's and the words, "margin's are all clear" you will feel a 100% relief taken off your shoulders. Yes, you will have happy tears well up and you will not be able to control your self, along with your wonderful wife. Remember this is a "team" thing going on here. LOL.

Well Cyndi is doing so much better now, and she is on her way to expanding her breast and she is feeling more normal. She had thought of not going thru this process of breast reconstruction, but she did opt for it and I feel she is happy she did so. This is not an easy process, but it is not to the point of being so bad that a person should just opt out. This comes from Cyndi as well.

Well the bills are coming in, full steam. So far, we are ok, and will pay them one at a time as we go along this journey. Try and plan ahead as to when to pay these bills, and you will make it. By the way, I was a financial advisor/banker for almost thirty years, and this is trying even for me. It will be ok, hang tight.

I will keep you posted as to how Cyndi's situation is, and how this husband is taking it all in. All I can end with is this; support each other through this time, keep communications totally open, listen to her and learn not to say anything until she is done with her statement which may be somewhat long at times, and be glad of those long conversations because she is here, she is able to be in your life, and together your going to be better than ever.

Does the word cancer still scare me, you better believe it. It will never not, but we have great doctors and the progress being made is ever so hopeful.

For us, we rely on God to give us strength, as we continue to pray for continued success. Take care all.

Relief does come, yet I still fear results

Today is two days after my wife had her mastectomy. She is doing well. We are again at a waiting point now for the results of clear margins. We will know within the next four days or before. This is where my fear comes in, yet there is a way around this fear. The upside of this fear is this. First, why am I fearful is what you might be asking. I fear she still has cancer which means she will have to go through radiation treatment. Now for the upside. If she does have to have radiation she will most likely beat this cancer. If she is told she is ok and she has clear margins there will be no radiation. I am not saying I will feel confident they have all the cancer out of her body at this point either. So having the treatment is not as bad of a process. It is up to the individual going through all of this. As a husband we will always fear for our spouses as we love them, we want to make them feel good, and to know they are loved. We want to have the power to take the cancer away. We want to just snap our fingers and make it happen.
Unfortunately we do not have that ability, so all we can do is be sure to stand with our spouse and be there for them as much as possible.

Enough for now, will write again.

Our Heidi knows something is up, really!

I know most of you think dogs are just dogs and they don't feel what we feel, right? I don't believe that for one minute. When Cyndi and I are not feeling well our Heidi Girl knows it and she is there to comfort us. Don't get me wrong as I have seen dogs do the opposite, but not in our case.

Our dog had to go to the Vets today, (big bill) as usual, but she still senses something not right.

Today was the worst of the worst days for news as Cyndi did not come back with clear margins from her surgeon. We were afraid of this, but still kept a positive attitude, prayed and hoped for the best.

I am trying to keep my mind open, and thoughts as positive as I can and refuse to think otherwise even now. I am so upset that not very much research has been done with this Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma type of cancer. I hope research will continue as this new form of cancer seems to be a silent one. It can lay dormant it seems for years, and it takes years for it to be noticed.

If anyone reads this I would like to pass onto you something Cyndi has told me. She said she has had pain in her breast or over twenty years. If this is your case do not delay, get to the doctors office and insist in a total exam.

Well I really wanted to rant and rave here tonight, but figured this would be much more productive to help someone here, or even in future months or years.

Enough for now...

How do we cope, how do you cope?

I feel like time is standing still, and in some ways this is a comfort to me. Waiting for Cyndi's results of "clear margins" cannot come soon enough. I read blogs written by women who have gone through the same ordeal, and came back with no clear margins. It seems this Adenoid Cystic Carcenoma type of cancer is a impossible to actually see when the surgeon is trying to get it all. It seems like it will be a miracle if we hear "clear margins" done deal. My heart goes out to those who have to fight this frightening cancer, or any cancer for that matter.

I do know this much. A person has to live life and enjoy the time we have here. When you look at life as it is, we really are not on this planet for a long time. I think one hundred years is really not a long time when you look back on what has happened during the last one hurdred years. What the heck, we have gone from riding a horse to riding a bike, then a car, motorcycle, train, airplane, and so on. The accomplishments are astounding that we have been able to do all this, but cannot find cures for certain cancers. I wonder what is in store for us the next hundred years? Will we all be like the Jetson's and fly around and live in high rise apartments? LOL, I sure hope not.

Well here is to clear margins, my prayer request made fervently through the faith we have in our God. He is awsome to do what He did for us, things will work out for the best, in any case.

Do you ever get it in the "Gut"

Today as I looked forward to having lunch with my wife, my gut really was turning upside down. I knew today was the day Cyndi would find out if this Thursday was a go or not for her breast surgery. I knew deep down the answer was more than likely a yes, it will be. I was right, my feelings didn't let me down as usual. Cyndi quietly told me once I was in the car as we drove off, "well it is this Thursday."

My stomach really went for a turn over then, and I felt myself starting to become overwhelmed again. I quickly said to myself, that's enough, get with the program and have a nice lunch. And that is just what we did.

My suggestion for any person going through this ordeal with a loved one is to try and stay in the ball game, and try your best to support the decision your wife makes. Being as positive as you can be will help get her through it. Just being a sounding board is really healthy for us both. This has been a learning experience I will never forget. All in all I will say this though. It has brought us together even in a stronger way than I can ever imagin.

Enough rambling, I will check back later and let you know how things are going.

Take care, God bless.

A man's perspective, here we go

It is going on two weeks now since my wife Cyndi was diagnosed with cancer, or has it been longer? It sure seems like it has been a life time event. Where is time going, so much to discuss, so many feelings and emotions to share with each other. The time alone, without her in my presence scares the life out of me. The thought of her not being here and not being able to beat this cancer...No way! She will win this!
So here is my perspective for those men, or women here that want to hear it like it is, this is how I feel.
Scared, alone, beaten with a ball bat in my stomach. Then came the tears, along with words that did not come out right. Questions, a ton of them. How, why, when, how bad, how long, where do we go for help, who does what? Are we sure this doctor will do the right job? All these words seemed to mean something, didn't they?

Then, as time settled and I was able to listen to Cyndi explain what we were up against, a calm started to slightly come about. I say slightly because I do not think I will ever have a peace of mind regarding this thing called cancer, that is threatening the life of the person I cherish. How could this happen to her, after all she just came through a brain tumor removal a year and a half ago.

It seems like birthdays really do suck, pardon my french, but they do. Let me tell you why. Cyndi had her seizures on my birthday, August 24th, and when did she go in for her removal of her tumor in her breast? On her birthday, December 18th, (oh, did I mention she made 50 now?) LOL, well she did. She is catching up with me. OK, back to the story. I guess I am trying to throw out to the men here especially, how it feels to have this happen to your loved one. I am learning to keep my mouth shut as much as possible, and to listen and bring in all I can she is telling me. Men, you will not catch it all, oh you will think you did, but you won't. The shock has something to do with it, and you will continue to ask the same question later, maybe a few times, but it will sink in as time goes on.
I think this is enough for now. I do want to say I am thankful for this site. I know Cyndi and I will try and be a part of helping anyone we can. Thanks Molly for being here, Cyndi and you truely are sisters, so many of you out here are very special ladies. SHMILY, that was for Cyndi.
Semper Fi.........Always faithful.