Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
Comments
-
I belong to a forum called the Happy Atheist and it has several physics Phds explaining some of Hawking's points. It helps some, but I am afraid that physics is beyond me. The thing I do understand is that according to quantum theory, things at the sub atomic level pop into and out of existence all the time.
It's amazing that just 70-80 years ago science thought that our galaxy was all there was.
0 -
Me! Or rather, I think of myself as an agnostic. We can't any of us know how the universe was structured, it didn't come with a guide book.
I don't feel I have to have any particular kind of faith to survive this, or if it comes to it, not survive it. I believe in life, in making the most of what we were given. That's exactly what I intend to do, come what may. I'm perfectly fine with nothing afterward. It's why every day here is so important.
0 -
Madalyn, can you figure out a way to post those cat/deer photos here? An appropriate place, don't you think? BY the way, I had a most delightful surprise visit from Enjoyful and her sister yesterday! Sis hadn't ever seen the famous falls so a great reason (plus me, haha) to cross the border!
Welcome MNK -- yep we do sometimes go off on tangents --- and if you have a particular tangent you want to go off on, be our guest!!!!
0 -
I wish I had the patience/time to slog through Hawkins. I never took a physics class [scared off by the math and generally felt thick in school] so I suspect I would have to read him very slowly. Maybe I will start with a kids' book!
I have to say, for me, thats one of the fun things about books like Harry Potter or shows like Doctor Who. One hundred years ago we thought we knew it all and yet now we know it completely different. Even 25 years ago---my university classmates had desktop computers that didn't have the computing power of my I-Touch! Who can say where science will be in another 100 years? Maybe my kids will get those flying brooms and sonic screwdrivers!
0 -
So far the book is all about reality as we perceive it, or not....
0 -
OMG .. that is so cute!
0 -
Aaawwwwww. Beyond cute--and cuddly. Thanks for sharing these.
0 -
tooooo cute. . . i see that the deer appears to be a boy--is the cat a girl or a boy? not that the relationship really has a future but just curious...thanks for sharing. . . .
0 -
3monstmama, you crack me up! Madalyn, I love, love, love those pictures.
L
0 -
As an atheist I feel more comfortable posting my new question to all the atheists and agnostics then to the general boards.
Hello my name is Cindy. I had a partial mastectomy September 28th, came back with DCIS and atypical hyperplasia no nodes. I am meeting with the radiation oncologist on Friday. I am doing pretty well emotionally, except I feel like a fraud when I do get worried, or concerned about radiation, or the hyperplasia causing future problems.
I don't HAVE cancer. I have pre cancer. What ever the hell THAT is, and then what do you tell people? I haven't told them anything. What would I say? My closest friends and family know but even then I don't know how to talk about it. When I start getting tired because of the radiation, what? I am not sick, I don't have anything, I DIDN'T have anything, they took out something that could have been something and now they are beaming me so hopefully it never becomes something.
I feel like I don't have the right to be scared, or tired, or freaked out, or overwhelmed like the rest of you rightfully do. I am being treated for the potential possibility. 99% of the time I am fine, but with the radiation coming closer I am getting more and more upset and I am not sure why. I am so glad, so, so, glad that this is all I have, I should not be this upset. I thought I went through all this when we were waiting for the pathology report. I got the good news, what is wrong with me?
Sorry I just didn't know where else to go with this.
Cindy
0 -
Hi Cindy,
Given all you have been through, I think a little stress and anxiety is pretty normal. If you are in the position of having had a mastectomy but thinking you didn't have cancer, I can understand your frustration and anxiety. If I might ask, given that you don't consider the DCIS cancer, why did you choose the treatment route you chose? Personally I also had DCIS but I consider it cancer based on what my oncologist told me. She said that my grade of DCIS was cancer, not pre-cancer, the difference being my DCIS was not yet invasive but that if I did not deal with it, it would become invasive.
0 -
Cindy, I'm so glad you found this thread and feel that you can vent here. I don't want to tell you what to think or feel, but I really, really hope you can get past this stage of feeling like a fraud. Because in no way are you a fraud. I find the whole cancer/pre-cancer terminology thing singularly unhelpful. You can call DCIS pre-cancer, or you can call it non-invasive cancer, but the fact is, the current treatment is brutal and invasive. I remember, back when I knew I had a malignancy but didn't yet know what I was dealing with, being taken aback to learn that the treatment for DCIS was the same as for invasive cancer, minus the chemo (which not all women with invasive cancer need, anyhow). There I was, blithely thinking that a little bit of DCIS would be a lot of nothing, and hoping that's "all" it would turn out to be. Boy, did I feel stupid/let down/you name it.
I have a special hatred for DCIS now, because it's why I'm missing a breast. I did turn out to have an invasive tumor, but it was small and a perfect candidate for a lumpectomy -- if not for the whopping big area of DCIS diffused throughout my breast, which required a change in my surgery plans.
You'll find a lot of women here and in other threads who've been treated for DCIS, and a ton of support. Most important, you DO belong here. I hope your consult on Friday goes well, and I hope you come back here and tell us about it (or just come back here and chill).
Linda
0 -
Thanks 3monstmama
Maybe it was all in how my surgeon put it. He said that it MAY become invasive at which point it would be cancer. I guess I am obsesing about semantics here. The radiation is more for the atypical hyperplasia which they are more worried about at this point.
When I had the masectomy they were actually giving me 60% odds it was cancer. I was very confused by the distinctions as well when the pathology report came back.
Feeling a bit better now, my husband came home and I had a good cry on his shoulder now take out is on the way.
Thanks!
0 -
Thanks Linda,
I kind of wondered why it would have carcinoma in the name if it wasn't cancer. Thanks for making me feel so welcome! The way they talk about it, at least my surgeon, made it seem like "This is not big deal at all, nothing to worry about" I am sorry you had to go though that!
I will be stopping by again. I am thrilled I found this site.
0 -
Hi Madalyn,
Thanks for pointing out the DCIS forum. This is such a wonderful place.
Cindy
0 -
Hi Cindy .. Welcome!
You have every right to be scared, stressed and angry ... you're not a fraud! I'm of the belief that DCIS is cancer. It's the kind of cancer that hasn't left the duct yet. It's still cancer .. and scary too. It requires the same treatment as invasive cancer (except no chemo). I'm glad you're finding some support on the DCIS forum too. Great bunch of gals. We have a couple that post on this thread too that had DCIS. I had both DCIS and IDC.
I wish you all the best,
Bren
0 -
shirehouse,
well under the bus with THAT surgeon. . . . No wonder you feel awful! <<hugs>> What BinVa said---I had DCIS, it was cancer, it just wasn't invasive. I had 2 surgeries and radiation and get to spend the next five years on tamoxifen. And when I go for mammograms I get extra attention and every little thing results in a biopsy. Sounds like stupidbreastcancer to me!
Welcome to the DCIS thread. Check out posts by Beesie the resident DCIS expert. They should help you to understand things better.
0 -
Never never never compare what you got to what someone else got! You are not a fraud, you have every right to be frightened and worried. It is a traumatic experience regardless of specific pathology. Besides its no one business and you do not have to explain or justify ANYTHING to anyone. You do need to be good to yourself, get the help and rest and whatever you need in order to heal (physically, mentally and emotionally).
0 -
I have classic LCIS and nothing worse (which most - not all -oncologists do NOT think is cancer), and I had one (non-oncologist) say, "Well, it has carcinoma in the name". So I usually do not circle the 'do you have cancer' yes box. But my gyn keeps on putting on my diagnosis 'history of breast cancer'.
I think its OK to feel however you are feeling. I have a PTSD-like syndrome, and other medical issues. I may have more *inappropriate* anxiety than most people here. But this isn't a competition.
I think its good to verify people's feelings; there's no right or wrong way to feel. It doesn't help me when someone tells me I shouldn't feel X when I'm feeling that. (One psychologist referred to my PTSD as 'a bad habit'. There's probably some truth in his 'bad habit' remark, but it isn't very easy to accept. Of course, I am totally aware intellectually that it is totally inappropriate for me to cringe when a doctor enters my exam room. )
So, no, you are DEFINITELY not a fraud. You are feeling appropriately.
Layne, you just make me feel like I put on a nice,warm blanket. I'm so glad you are here.
0 -
Thanks to everyone! I really took your advise this weekend. Who would have thought I would feel BETTER calling it cancer. I met with the radiation oncologist Friday and she seems very nice, supportive and very thorough with her answers. I have my planning CT tomorrow morning.
This weekend I tryed to stop cramming in everything I am afraid I won't have the energy for once the radiation starts.
And my husband has made me promise to STOP when I am tired. Even if I am in the middle of a project. I actually signed up for FMLA leave at work just in case even. I am going to do my best to not overdo and admit everything is not as before. You women are amazing! Leaf I think that psychologist needs to go under the bus with my surgeon. Thanks again everyone!!
0 -
Shirehouse,
Glad your weekend went better. My Zap Doctors encouraged me to keep exercising during treatment and said that doing that really helps you be less tired. In addition to getting to bed at a reasonable time I tried to fit in a walk or bike ride every day and I have to say, I think I did feel better.
two thumbs up on the FMLA leave---I didn't and wished I had as I had one supervisor who was a supreme jerk. . .
0 -
I usually feel better when I know something about the 'worst case' and 'best case' about my medical conditions. I don't like it when others minimize my situation (or maximize it). My feelings are what they are - I have enough problems trying to figure out what I'm feeling anyways!
It sounds like you're trying to listen to your body and mind more, and act accordingly. I think that's a good thing! Best wishes on your planning CT today. You've helped me, and I'm sure others, shirehouse.
0 -
Hi Madalyn - hope this Fall day finds you well. My DH uses a telescope and binocs for star gazing... We were told by a prof skywatcher that unless you want/can spend loads of money on a super duper scope, then you might as well go for...a REALLY good pair of binocs. They are great for star gazing, we've seen some serious detail. So it depends what your DH wants it for. We had a cheap type scope for a while, but then we invested in Steiner binocs...He loves them. Well worth the invest. will take a look at the website and let you know.
0 -
Another agnostic here-and not a fan of organized religion either. DH of over twenty years is practicing Muslim. Although we've had some very animated philosophical discussions over the years, he's never tried to convert me, he knows better
. The closest thing we've got to a "new convert" would be our cockatoo of 8 years. Many times when he says the prayer, it's usually within eyeshot of this parrot. While praying, DH will softly recite Arabic and Hana(cockatoo) will make some sort of mumbling noise (abstract interpretation of DH's voice) and will even, in a weird sort of way, go through the actual motion of "praying" by tilting his body forward(like a see-saw). He then comes back up again, followed by leaning his head backward till the top of his head touches his back. ('toos and other parrots have very flexible necks).At that point Hana will make that mumbling noise again. This bird was not specifically taught this trick- Hana is somehow fascinated by this particular human ritual so he probably thinks it's fun to imitate..in a parrot-sort-of-fashion. LOL! (As an aside, DH has upper respiratory issues and clears his throat several times during the day-but in the manner that guys(not ladies) clear their throats. Guess who's imitating that disgusting sound! LOL!)
On a more serious matter, I enjoyed glancing at some of the posts in this thread. When it comes to my diagnosis, I'm pretty much of the attitude that when you're number is up...it's up. I just hope that the cosmic odds will be in my favor that I can live life of NED. And due the unfortunate event that a distant recurrence should occur at some point in the future, I hope that medical science will have advanced to the point where such a condition can be curable or be managed as a chronic condition rather than a get-your-affairs-in-order sort of condition . Cancer can strike anyone, anywhere.....with impunity. My "faith" lies in scientific advancement....
0 -
Welcome Ducorps! I'm a born and raised San Diegan as well. Living in Virginia now for the past four years. I was just home last month visiting family.
I love Hana ... she cracks me up.
My faith went up in smoke a long time ago. I guess I'm agnostic ... hard to say.
Again .. welcome,
Bren
0 -
^^^Thanks! I've been living here in SD for about 23 years now.
0 -
Hi Ducorps. Hope this Fall day finds you well. We lived in the Middle East for 7 seven years,in fact our children, a son and daughter basically grew up there. They miss their Muslim friends and family a great deal, and when I told my son/husband about Hana... we all laughed so much. We agreed that we can just see her bobbing up and down to the 'call to prayer' 5 times day! Son now wants a parrot to teach to our Mosque alarm clock! Don't think so.
We have been fortunate enough to have lived in among many religions. We have experienced good and bad in most of them. Our son is particularly fond of Islam as he had so much contact with this area. I guess my husband is a lapsed Catholic and me... well at this point we are all agnostic. As a teaching family, we have a belief in the power of nature, and we all know how Mother Nature loves a joke! Don't we? How about BC...? In fact any cancer... Talk about survival of the fittest...I'm not sure about that. Going for 3rd chemo tomorrow. Argh ! Listening to my body and it tells me I want kale and cabbage... what about chocolatte or wine? So much for nature. Ha!
0 -
I'm picturing Hana, the cockatoo, and cracking up.
Outsidethebox, I lived in the Middle East for two years as a kid (when I was 12-13), while my father taught at a Saudi university. It was definitely a transformative experience - shaped a lot of my politics and general worldview. I think the experience of being exposed to different cultures and beliefs when you're young makes it hard to react to claims of having a tapline to "the truth" with anything other than healthy skepticism.
Hope your treatment tomorrow goes well.
Linda
0 -
We lived in Spain for four years and our kids went to Spanish schools.. I think we all drew from that experience that there is more than one way to think and more than one way to do things....
0 -
Thanks Sunflowers.
I am in a much better frame this week. I was feeling so overwhelmed last week.Hana sounds like a hoot. My in laws have birds, but they are not nearly that amusing. We have 4 laying chickens, whom I adore and are funny in their own right but not nearly so smart or creative. But with winter heading our way in Wisconsin I will be hanging out with them less and less.
outsidethebox how about bubble and squeek WITH wine followed by chocolate? Or is wine off the menu right now?
0
