The diagnosis of a catastrophic illness such as breast cancer is a traumatic, life-changing event. Many survivors speak of their diagnosis as an "out-of-body" experience. "I sat in my doctor's office and listened to her words and I just couldn't take it all in. Who was she talking about?"
Our lives spin out of control, and revolve around a new vocabulary including sentinel node, clean boarders, estrogen-positive or negative, d.c.i.s. (ductal carcinoma in situ) or invasive. The list goes on and on. How can we possibly get through this? We feel completely powerless. Will our lives ever be normal again?
For many women, once treatment is ended, the feeling of powerless is overwhelming, and is often accompanied by profound sadness and depression that may be difficult to understand by those close to them.
The Breast Cancer Survival Center will present an all-day workshop, "The Power of Empowerment," on Saturday, November 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairfield County Woman's Center at Norwalk Community College in Norwalk to address these issues.
Presenter will be Susanne G. Lee of Instant Productivity, East Windsor, NJ, an empowerment and lifestyle coach and who was a featured presenter at BCSC's "Our Wellness Matters" event held June 4 at Norwalk Community College.
"There are tools to help survivors take their power back," says Susanne Lee. "There is a place inside everyone where you feel energized, not victimized. For some, it may be harder to find than for others, but it is there for all of us. This place allows us to feel alive and joyful and loved, and it is a gift we can all give ourselves. Finding this place is a process, and there are skills that all of us can develop to reach it.
She adds, "The word 'empower' is defined as: to give official authority, to enable. On November 19, we will learn these skills and empower ourselves to take back control of our lives, one step at a time."
To ensure a place at this workshop, a check for $35 per person (includes continental breakfast and lunch) made out to BCSC should be mailed to Susan Santangelo, BCSC, 4 Drummers Trail, Old Saybrook, CT, by November 16. For further information, call 203-857-7304, or e-mail cancersurvival@aol.com.
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