Well, I'm still playing with my soft pastels....waiting to hear when my surgery date will be...

[LiberalLoner]

Last edited Wed Aug 16, 2023, 04:45 PM - Edit history (3)

I’ve been told the hospital is busy and has a big backlog so not to expect the surgery for my breast cancer any time soon. Hope they get me in for surgery before Xmas.

Doing some art each day is good therapy, takes my mind off worries and into a happier place.

I figure most of us here use art that way, at least some of the time. It’s such a nice peaceful way to spend time, isn’t it?

Thank you for looking! 😍

[url=https://postimg.cc/5jRNJxJ0][img][/img][/url]

Did this one today.

[url=https://postimg.cc/4K5DdbTR][img][/img][/url]

[CrispyQ]

1. Very lovely!

This could be a trail that I hike. The clouds & water are perfect!

[LiberalLoner]

27. Thank you! ❤️

[Walleye]

2. Beautiful and peaceful. Thanks for sharing

Can’t believe they are delaying your breast cancer surgery. Hope it happens soon and goes very well good luck. I had mine four years ago. It went well

[LiberalLoner]

28. Thank you! ❤️ I'm glad you are well...how long did you have to wait

Between the biopsy results and surgery, do you remember?

Because it’s been nearly a month since the results and I went to an appointment with the oncology surgeon and another appointment with the plastic surgeon doc but no one has contacted me yet regarding a surgery date. And the plastic surgery doc hinted it would be several months at the very least.

I don’t know if that is a normal wait these days, or excessive.

I know I wish I could have surgery asap.

Thank you.

[Walleye]

34. I actually waited a month but I wanted to attend my friends 70th birthday at the beach.Dr okayed it

It’s brutal that they are making you wait. I know how it feels, you just wanna get it over with

[LiberalLoner]

54. Thank you...yeah it does feel kind of brutal....I don't even know when I will be told a date. In

One week? Two weeks? Two months?

I have no idea.

[GPV]

3. This is stunning! I hope your surgery is soon!

[LiberalLoner]

29. Thank you so much! ❤️ me too!

[Ocelot II]

4. Just beautiful!

The colors are perfect, and I bow down to your talent with pastels!

[LiberalLoner]

31. Thank you, gosh! ❤️

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Gorgeous.

[LiberalLoner]

32. Thank you! ❤️

[democrank]

6. So beautiful

Thank you so much for posting this

[LiberalLoner]

33. Thank you for looking at it and replying! ❤️

[DFW]

7. Delaying cancer surgery is cruel and can be dangerous

The first time my wife had cancer it was breast cancer. It got delayed 5 months, and it spread in that time.

The second time she had cancer, 15 years later, it was a rare, always fatal cancer called “the murderer.” It is called that because it is very silent, and never shows itself until it is too late to treat. My wife was that one case in ten thousand where it discovered by pure chance during a routine checkup that she gets every few months because she had already had cancer before. It was in its initial stage, just barely detectable. If they had waited five months the second time, she would have died six years ago. Instead, she is still with me, and, as far as we know, cancer-free.

[LiberalLoner]

35. Oh I hope she will be okay now, how terrifying! And how awful they delayed it for so long!

I read on-line something like 98% of breast cancer patients get surgery within 60 days of diagnosis by biopsy.

I guess I am in that unlucky 2% that is looking at a several month delay.

And your wife was in that unlucky 2%, too, that first time.

[niyad]

8. Just lovely. Thank you for sharing.

[LiberalLoner]

36. Thank you! ❤️

[PatSeg]

9. Wonderful work!

[LiberalLoner]

37. Thank you! ❤️

[El Mimbreno]

10. Nice work, my kind of art!...

And don't let your providers and the hospital put you off. Bug the hell out of them.

[LiberalLoner]

38. Thank you! ❤️ I don't seem to have any control over the surgery date...but my DH has said

If the waiting time is more than two months, he will see about trying to get me into a hospital in his home town of Syracuse NY.

[Nittersing]

11. I love so much about this

The colors, the textures... It's so lovely.

[LiberalLoner]

39. Thank you! ❤️

[fierywoman]

12. Utterly beautiful! I love the rhythm of it. I wish you total wellness.

[LiberalLoner]

40. Thank you!!! ❤️

[nuxvomica]

13. Lovely! I especially like the water!

The reason art is such a respite is it returns us to the state of innocence, which is characterized by honesty, playfulness and wonder. One feels all three when creating art, or enjoying it, and while that is happening, the opposing characteristics of corruption -- sham, drudgery and fear -- cannot gain a foothold.

Best of luck to you!

[CaptainTruth]

15. That's a wonderful way to describe art!

With my music, I've always felt it was a connection to what was in my heart, to my feelings. Music allowed me to express my feelings in a way that words couldn't, it was like I was playing my feelings & turning them into musical sounds.

[LiberalLoner]

41. Thank you! ❤️ so well said, beautifully written!!!

[CaptainTruth]

14. That is absolutely beautiful!

I can't draw or paint, but music is my "art." Playing guitar & writing music has been my therapy my whole adult life, starting in middle school, so I can relate to your feelings about your art. And you're really good at it!

I'm thinking positive thoughts about your surgery! Sooner rather than later.

[LiberalLoner]

42. Thank you so much ❤️ and thank you for creating the magic that is music. I love music so much.

[MLAA]

16. You do an amazing job with water. It's glassy with movement. Just marvelous.

[LiberalLoner]

43. Thank you! ❤️

[William769]

17. Love your painting, it's beautiful.

Sorry about your wait for surgery.

[LiberalLoner]

44. Thank you! ❤️ yeah, with cancer, sooner is better for surgery...

[LoisB]

18. This is beautiful! I hope your surgery is soon.

[LiberalLoner]

45. Thank you! ❤️ I've been warned it will be at least several months....busy hospital.

[llashram]

19. I love the stream and

merging "soft colours". Even the foothills... May peace be with you...

[LiberalLoner]

46. Thank you!!! ❤️

[marble falls]

20. Beautiful pastel, but more importantly, how are you holding up having no set date for your cancer ..

... surgery. Shocked to hear of the waiting time. It's just inconceivable to me.

You are definitely at the top of my prayer list. You good attitude will carry you through. Please contact me if you need to vent.

Different cancers, but a survivor, too.

[LiberalLoner]

47. Oh I'm sorry it happened to you too, hope you never have a recurrence!

Well, it’s giving me some anxiety, not gonna lie.


I’m reading articles on pubmed that say each 30 day period out from diagnosis to surgery leads to a substantial decrease in survival rates at five years, especially for stage I and II cancers which mine appears to be now based on imaging.

So every month I have to wait, I’m watching my chance of death within five years inch up and up and it’s not a good feeling.

It’s been three months so far since the mammogram spotted the cancer.

All the medical facilities in this area are so busy, there are long delays for everything.

Thank you so much…❤️❤️❤️

[pansypoo53219]

21. nice. i like working on spray painted paper. usually metallic, but was doing figure drawing.

of course i used nu pastels more.

[LiberalLoner]

48. Thank you! ❤️ your art sounds really cool!!!

[pansypoo53219]

62. i liked a velvet paper i found. and i used granite spray paint for my jeffry dalmer skulls.

i also got the cheap neon pastels.

gotta find my pastels

[Rebl2]

22. Beautiful picture

I love to see streams and waterfalls. The clouds are so pretty too.

[LiberalLoner]

49. Thank you! ❤️

[yellerpup]

23. Beautiful!

Art needs you as much as you need it. Best of luck to you. Sending strength, hope and healing.

[LiberalLoner]

50. Thank you!!!❤️❤️❤️

[Goddessartist]

24. I love the way you see! It's stunning!

And I'm sending you lots of good vibes and love. Hope you get in very soon! So mote it be!

[LiberalLoner]

51. Thank you!!!❤️❤️❤️

[appalachiablue]

25. Beautiful work and so peaceful. Art is healthy, calming. All the best, I hope

you hear something before too long. That wait is rotten, wish I could give them hell for you. Take care and let us know how things are going.. 🎨

[LiberalLoner]

52. Thank you so so much!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[MontanaMama]

26. I love this so much, LL!

Reminds me of an area near Wolf Creek north of Helena….remote and wild.

I’m really disappointed that your surgery has been delayed. I wasn’t aware that the hospitals here were so backed up. I’m hopeful something gives…and soon. This must be really stressful.

Looking outside this morning is eerie with the smoke in the air…everything is yellow. I always think of artists when we’ve got fire weather and how you might interpret what this looks like.

Hugs. Wishing you well.

[LiberalLoner]

53. Thank you so so much! ❤️❤️❤️ My Mom lived just outside of Helena, near Scratch Gravel Hill,

Until she passed away. She had a nice cozy log house and she waved at the trains that went by and when the rattlesnakes were out, shot the buggers from her front porch like any self-respecting farm girl raised in Montana would do.

Today when I was out driving, saw a Montana grizzlies sticker on a car and I knew it was my Mom giving me a sign she was watching over me.

Yeah, everything here is busy apparently.

My imaging place, AAR imaging, was super busy so it took three months between when the first mammogram showed the cancer, until extra imaging was done, and then two biopsies done. I have another biopsy next week because they couldn’t do all the biopsies…too busy.

And my breast MRI, to be done at another place that has the right kind of MRI, took a month of waiting…will be 31 August.

My Oncology surgeon at INOVA said his hope was to get a surgery date 4-6 weeks after the MRI. But the plastic surgeon at a later appointment said things were terribly backed up and we were looking at several months of waiting.

It’s been 8 days since I saw the plastic surgeon doctor, so now my team is complete and they should have submitted a request for an OR to the scheduling department…no call back to me yet on a date.

My husband will be calling our nurse coordinator tomorrow to find out when we can expect to hear about a surgery date.

Now, I read 98% of breast cancer patients get surgery in 60 days or less from the biopsy results/diagnosis.

It’s already been roughly a month for me since diagnosis, and if they add a three month wait on top of that…well, I guess I am in the unlucky 2% then.

🤷🏻?♀️

[MontanaMama]

55. I just looked up the Scratch Gravel Hills!

Lived here my whole life and hadn’t heard of them! It absolutely looks like rattlesnake country.

I believe your mom is watching out for you. It sounds like your husband is too. Advocating for yourself is such hard work. There’s no shame in being the squeaky wheel right now if it gets you to surgery more quickly. I am sending all the love and light I’ve got your way in the hope that you’re through this as soon as possible.

❤️

[LiberalLoner]

56. I remember climbing to the top of that hill at the end, the smaller one without many trees,

One winter when I visited my Mom. Below zero and all the lights of Helena glittering below.

Crisp air and when I scrambled back down, it was a short walk back to her place, the windows of the log house all lit up and I knew warmth and my Mom were waiting there and it felt like coming home.

Special memory I will always treasure.

[sheshe2]

57. Your pictures as always are incredible.

I think you are as well. I hope they get you a date soon for your surgery.

[LiberalLoner]

59. Thank you so so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Ocelot II]

58. Damn, you're good!

[LiberalLoner]

60. LOL thank you so much!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Skittles]

61. wait, wait....

there's a backlog for cancer surgery?


LOVE your paintings

[LiberalLoner]

64. Thank you so much! Yeah...but I got my date, 16 October! Big relief!

[bif]

63. Wow!

Absolutely gorgeous! So jealous of your talent!

[LiberalLoner]

65. Thank you so much, but I'm jealous of yours! ❤️

[femmedem]

66. Magnificent.

You've got such a confident touch with pastels--never overworked. And what a sense of light in these.

[LiberalLoner]

68. Thank you so much! ❤️

[debm55]

67. Beautiful work. Do you spray the pastels when finished?

[LiberalLoner]

69. Thank you so much! ❤️ no, soft pastels are ruined by fixative. They must be framed behind glass.