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brer cat

(27,175 posts)
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 03:35 PM Sep 24

I rang the bell today! Radiation is done.

All I have left in my breast cancer journey is six months of IV Zometa for osteopinia, and 5 years of oral hormone chemo. The worst is over, and I remain very positive about my future.

Thanks to all of you for encouragement and support!

112 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I rang the bell today! Radiation is done. (Original Post) brer cat Sep 24 OP
That's awesome. Congratulations. Biophilic Sep 24 #1
Fantastic news! Thanks for sharing! Doodley Sep 24 #2
Yay! I'm rooting for you. Solly Mack Sep 24 #3
Amazing! choie Sep 24 #4
Congratulations LetMyPeopleVote Sep 24 #5
You rang the bell! sheshe2 Sep 24 #6
I do love that little girl! Thanks, my friend. brer cat Sep 24 #31
She makes me smile. sheshe2 Sep 24 #33
Great news! anciano Sep 24 #7
That's fantastic! So happy for you! Stay encouraged. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Sep 24 #8
Congratulations brer KS Toronado Sep 24 #9
I keep you in my heart, KS. I can't imagine what a brer cat Sep 24 #29
Congrats !!!! alittlelark Sep 24 #10
Wonderful news Grim Chieftain Sep 24 #11
Wonderful news! murielm99 Sep 24 #12
What excellent news! 3catwoman3 Sep 24 #13
That's wonderful! people Sep 24 #14
Congratulations Brer Cat! lucca18 Sep 24 #15
That's great. My sister-in-law is a ten year survivor. NNadir Sep 24 #16
YAHOO! MIButterfly Sep 24 #17
So Happy For You, brer car! 💙 Cha Sep 24 #18
Congratulations! The day I rang the bell I felt like I got my life back. I know you get what I mean. flashman13 Sep 24 #19
I certainly do! No matter how confident I felt, brer cat Sep 24 #26
That is wonderful news!! Vibes for your continued recovery and healing. niyad Sep 24 #20
Congratulations Brer Cat JMCKUSICK Sep 24 #21
Congratulations! A big accomplishment! Scrivener7 Sep 24 #22
Way to Go proud patriot Sep 24 #23
Congratulations!! NewEnglandAutumn Sep 24 #24
Congratulations ! cate94 Sep 24 #25
Congrats! BlueWavePsych Sep 24 #27
Congratutions, brer cat. greatauntoftriplets Sep 24 #28
Awesome! Hope22 Sep 24 #30
Good job!!!! hamsterjill Sep 24 #32
Congratulations! Buddyzbuddy Sep 24 #34
That is such a relief. Now heal. Codifer Sep 24 #35
Awesome news. Brava! n/t iluvtennis Sep 24 #36
Congrats, BC! SheltieLover Sep 24 #37
Yeeeesssss happy feet Sep 24 #38
congratulations peasant one Sep 24 #39
Congrats! 70sEraVet Sep 24 #40
Congratulations! evolves Sep 24 #41
Sincere congratulations! Picaro Sep 24 #42
(((HUGS))) BumRushDaShow Sep 24 #43
Oh, how wonderful! An emotional moment to be sure! QueerDuck Sep 24 #44
Yay! Yay! Yay! brer cat Clouds Passing Sep 24 #45
Hurray! Wild blueberry Sep 24 #46
Yay!!!!! LoisB Sep 24 #47
Fantastic! MLAA Sep 24 #48
Fantastic, how wonderful for you!! I hope your journey continues to be just as wonderful. Fla Dem Sep 24 #49
Congratulations! WhiteCheek69 Sep 24 #50
Congratulations! I'll keep you in my thoughts and I'm sending healing vibes for the rest of your journey. HeartsCanHope Sep 24 #51
Yay! kanda Sep 24 #52
🔔 Wishing you the very best on this last chapter of your journey to becoming a survivor 🌺 Deuxcents Sep 24 #53
That's great ironman_25 Sep 24 #54
Congratulations! meow2u3 Sep 24 #55
I've been in your shoes. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Diamond_Dog Sep 24 #56
Congratulations! susanr516 Sep 24 #57
. irisblue Sep 24 #58
M_____ F_____ YES!!!!! underpants Sep 24 #59
Joy and blessings! colorado_ufo Sep 24 #60
Yay! 🎉🎇 mwmisses4289 Sep 24 #61
What wonderful news! democrank Sep 24 #62
YAY!!! tazcat Sep 24 #63
YAY! So good to have something to celebrate! n/t TygrBright Sep 24 #64
Fantastic 👍👍👍 TommieMommy Sep 24 #65
Congratulations. sinkingfeeling Sep 24 #66
Best feeling in the world. maynard Sep 24 #67
I had hugs from the staff also and it almost brer cat Sep 24 #72
YES! That is wonderful! skylucy Sep 24 #68
Alllllllllllll... czarjak Sep 24 #69
After 5 malignancies I can tell you it is all about - Nigrum Cattus Sep 24 #70
Thank yoou. Both the surgeon and radiology brer cat Sep 24 #71
Congrats samplegirl Sep 24 #73
Wonderful news! JustAnotherGen Sep 24 #74
Yay !!! Karadeniz Sep 24 #75
Fantastic! gademocrat7 Sep 24 #76
Happy for you brer cat. Faux pas Sep 24 #77
Yay!! mercuryblues Sep 24 #78
Thanks for the tip. There is a Y not far from me. brer cat Sep 24 #80
So glad for your "graduation"! nt Dear_Prudence Sep 24 #79
Congratulations!!! DarthDem Sep 24 #81
Clang! Harker Sep 24 #82
Congratulations! purr-rat beauty Sep 24 #83
Congratulations to both of you! brer cat Sep 24 #88
Radiation is the gift that keeps on giving. Congratulations on finishing. phxjurist Sep 24 #84
Great news. Old Crank Sep 24 #85
Give her my best wishes for a complete recovery. brer cat Sep 24 #87
That is awful! sheshe2 Sep 24 #89
My wife says thanks Old Crank Sep 25 #103
Congratulations! area51 Sep 24 #86
Congratulations! That's a big deal! liberalla Sep 24 #90
So happy for you! mountain grammy Sep 25 #91
A little something you may enjoy Nac Mac Feegle Sep 25 #92
Phew! malaise Sep 25 #93
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful news with us, my friend! Rhiannon12866 Sep 25 #94
Fantastic news!! So happy for you!🧡💛💚💙💜 58Sunliner Sep 25 #95
Congratulations! nt Trueblue Texan Sep 25 #96
Yay! barbtries Sep 25 #97
Glad to hear you joined the bell ringer alumni ! Bluejeans Sep 25 #98
Congratulations to you also! brer cat Sep 25 #100
Congrats to another cancer survivor! lark Sep 25 #99
Congratulations! herding cats Sep 25 #101
Wishing you the best! Erda Sep 25 #102
Congratulations to you on this very important milestone. virgdem Sep 25 #104
Congratulations!! 33taw Sep 25 #105
That's wonderful! pandr32 Sep 25 #106
🙏🏽👏🏽🎉💙 luvallpeeps Sep 25 #107
Fantastic!!! vanlassie Sep 25 #108
Been there too Jimmy76 Sep 25 #109
I'm glad you are still with us! I can't imagine brer cat Sep 25 #110
Congrats, and here's to continuing recovery... electric_blue68 Sep 29 #111
Congratulations! Laurelin Oct 6 #112

sheshe2

(94,439 posts)
33. She makes me smile.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:06 PM
Sep 24

Your family must be thrilled with the news. I hope you are all celebrating.

brer cat

(27,175 posts)
29. I keep you in my heart, KS. I can't imagine what a
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 04:59 PM
Sep 24

recurrence would do to my feelings. I hope you will find this bearable and beatable!

flashman13

(1,663 posts)
19. Congratulations! The day I rang the bell I felt like I got my life back. I know you get what I mean.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 04:24 PM
Sep 24

brer cat

(27,175 posts)
26. I certainly do! No matter how confident I felt,
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 04:53 PM
Sep 24

there was always a tiny bit of "but what if" lurking in the background. This was a big milstone to accomplish.

hamsterjill

(16,664 posts)
32. Good job!!!!
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:02 PM
Sep 24

Happy for you that you are at this point. Great attitude. Wishing you all the best!

peasant one

(156 posts)
39. congratulations
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:35 PM
Sep 24

All the best to you. I hope you continue your heroic journey and continue to improve in health!

evolves

(5,652 posts)
41. Congratulations!
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:43 PM
Sep 24

That’s a wonderful milestone!
Here’s to the rest of your life, brer cat!

QueerDuck

(272 posts)
44. Oh, how wonderful! An emotional moment to be sure!
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:46 PM
Sep 24

Contrats... and wishing you continued good health and a speedy recovery and feeling like your normal self again! Great news! Thanks for sharing!

Fla Dem

(27,215 posts)
49. Fantastic, how wonderful for you!! I hope your journey continues to be just as wonderful.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:56 PM
Sep 24

HeartsCanHope

(1,364 posts)
51. Congratulations! I'll keep you in my thoughts and I'm sending healing vibes for the rest of your journey.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:22 PM
Sep 24

Deuxcents

(24,442 posts)
53. 🔔 Wishing you the very best on this last chapter of your journey to becoming a survivor 🌺
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:23 PM
Sep 24

maynard

(671 posts)
67. Best feeling in the world.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 07:30 PM
Sep 24

Glad you could ring the bell. I loud and long! took a lot of selfies and got hugs from the staff.

Nigrum Cattus

(1,050 posts)
70. After 5 malignancies I can tell you it is all about -
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 08:00 PM
Sep 24

your mental state of mind now. Positive affirmations will
help more than you could know now. Never allow any negative
thought to stay longer than seconds. They will pop-up on a
regular basis. Here is a site that can help.
https://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/cancer-treatment/stay-positive?algobjid=39_0

brer cat

(27,175 posts)
71. Thank yoou. Both the surgeon and radiology
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 08:17 PM
Sep 24

oncologist told me that my positive attitude and excellent level of support had made a huge difference so far and would continue to keep me moving forward. I have had a few disappointments, but I didn't dwell on them long and kept my spirits up. The support from DU has been an important part pf that. You don't walk alone when you are part of this group!

Faux pas

(15,972 posts)
77. Happy for you brer cat.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 09:07 PM
Sep 24

Sending you the best vibes for the rest of your journey being as peaceful and painless as possible

mercuryblues

(15,927 posts)
78. Yay!!
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 09:08 PM
Sep 24

Check into the YMCA. They offer a "live strong" program cancer survivors. You will know when your body is ready for it. It is free and you get free membership for your family for the duration.

It put me on a path to regain my strength.

purr-rat beauty

(788 posts)
83. Congratulations!
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 09:51 PM
Sep 24

I am happy to hear the worst is over, keep up your head and your spirit higher!

my wife and I are both survivors =)

Old Crank

(6,307 posts)
85. Great news.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 10:29 PM
Sep 24

My wife has 6 more radiation appointments and will ring the bell next Thursday.

Congratulations. You have had a harder road to travel than my wife.

brer cat

(27,175 posts)
87. Give her my best wishes for a complete recovery.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 11:07 PM
Sep 24

The worst part of radiation was the table I had to be on for the treatment. It felt like concrete embedded with rocks which was a disaster for my old arthritic spine. I had a good bit of fatigue and some discomfort after about a dozen sessions, but otherwise it wasn't too bad.

I hope she does well with the radiation and her recovery.

sheshe2

(94,439 posts)
89. That is awful!
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 11:29 PM
Sep 24

It's time for someone to come up with a new table design! It's treatment not torture.

Old Crank

(6,307 posts)
103. My wife says thanks
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 11:38 AM
Sep 25

The table she had has a thin pad and they have supports for her knees, so it isn't quite like that.

We are in Germany. The woman radiologist who found it is a witch. The tumor was 6 millimeter in size. She pointed it out on the mammogram and I still couldn't see it.
The prognosis is good. She told my wife; You Will survive this...

Rhiannon12866

(245,320 posts)
94. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful news with us, my friend!
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 06:37 AM
Sep 25

Here's to many years of good health!!!

Bluejeans

(132 posts)
98. Glad to hear you joined the bell ringer alumni !
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 08:37 AM
Sep 25

Glad to hear the good news!

I got to ring the bell on May 27. Yeah, I have to do another medication until 3/27, but it beats the alternative!

lark

(25,571 posts)
99. Congrats to another cancer survivor!
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 09:05 AM
Sep 25

It's been over 5 years since I had my last pre-melanoma and 20 years since breast cancer! Look forward to you being able to share stats like these!

Jimmy76

(16 posts)
109. Been there too
Thu Sep 25, 2025, 03:29 PM
Sep 25

My radiation was on my head and chest, it was brutal, I was SO happy when I made it to the last day - I hope things go well for you, I have had several bouts with cancer starting in 1980, and then again 2020 and a smaller incident a few years after, but somehow I am here to this day. It is tough, I hope you kick it in the pants!

electric_blue68

(24,452 posts)
111. Congrats, and here's to continuing recovery...
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 01:16 AM
Sep 29

I didn't know about the ring bell tradition until a good cousin of mine did it.

(I'd already had had a few people dear to me be successfully treated prior to this cousin)
.
Here's 🍷 to many years of good health to you!

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