The Villages - October 2020 - 16

Robin explained that her previous doctors thought she was
control," Linda said. "It's gone forever. But in time, it makes
fine, and that her scans showed only calcifications.
you more grateful for everything else and teaches us to be
"He sent me for a biopsy, and it was cancer," she said. "I'd
kinder, more forgiving."
had it two years."
Across the table, Valerie nods in agreement. She blinks
Thirty rounds of radiation and one lumpectomy later,
back tears. "I've never felt more loved in my life. When I was
Robin calls herself fortunate. "My primary care doctor was
diagnosed, my house looked like a Hallmark shop - all the
a breast cancer survivor," she said. "She took me under her
cards and gifts. I got emails and texts, and I thought, 'I had no
wing and got me the right care. I have a great husband and he
idea that people cared this much.'"
helped me through it, but it was a lonely place to be, especially
Kathy Barrett is having surgery in Chicago next week, she
since I'd just moved here and didn't know anyone."
tells the group. But enough about her - she wants to talk
A yoga practitioner for 22 years, Robin
about someone else.
decided it was time to get back on the mat.
"My friend has a friend who was just
SOMETIMES WE NEED
"I was carrying a breast cancer bag
diagnosed," she said. "The woman just
A REMINDER TO TAKE
when I went to class, and that's when
lost her husband and now she has breast
CARE OF OURSELVES - cancer. My friend asked if I would mind
Valerie approached me. We started chitchatting, and here I am. I'm very grateful
THE THINGS WE DO TO talking to her - I said, 'Oh my gosh. Of
to be here."
course, I'll pay it forward.'"
Villager and avid pickleball player HELP OURSELVES DURING
The group shares a collective cheer.
Linda Truitt feels connections are a part of CANCER ARE THE THINGS Befriending other women has become
self-care.
WE SHOULD BE DOING their code of conduct.
"Sometimes we need a reminder to
"There are so many questions," Valerie
EVERY DAY. - Linda Truitt
take care of ourselves - the things we do
said. "You don't know what to ask - the
to help ourselves during cancer are the
pros and cons of different decisions. This
things we should be doing every day," she said. "No matter
is a sharing space, and we can say to each other, 'think about
how bad I felt, I walked four times a day. Maybe just a quarter
this,' or 'have you thought about that?' We get such valuable
of a mile, but I got out and did it. I'm an exercise physiology
information from each other."
major and I talk about the chemistry of the breath. You have
Kathy describes the way she was embraced into the
to take time and breathe."
sisterhood after her diagnosis.
Linda explains that nose breathing carries nitric oxide
"One day last summer the doorbell rang," she said. "It was
through the body, regulates blood pressure, boosts the
a lady who lived about five houses over. She introduced herself
immune system and can energize and refresh us.
and said she'd heard I was going through a rough time. She
"It tells the vagus nerve to relax, and it also helps your
was a breast cancer survivor - I was stunned."
brain increase dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins
Robin chimes in with a similar story.
which all make you feel better. This is a practice that's
"The same thing happened to me," she said. "A neighbor
thousands of years old - meditation, breathing," she said.
brought me dinner and offered to take me to treatment. I think
"Just walking, breathing, not making every day about cancer
people are good. When push comes to shove, people are good."
- that's important."
Valerie Reading has built her network of friendships based
For many women, facing their own mortality is a major
on a single thread. In good times and bad, it is the thread they
reality check. "Cancer takes away the illusion that we have
hold onto - the power behind the pink.
16

OCTOBER 2020

The Villages - October 2020

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