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Tag Archive | "breast cancer"

Recycled Plastic Bag Basket

March 17, 2024 No comments yet

Here is my latest recycled plastic bag project. It is a crocheted plarn basket made from plastic bags cut about one inch wide and assembled. Just follow the plarn link for more information on how I make my plarn yarn for crocheting.

The basket was crocheted using the free recycled plastic basket pattern but seamless. For this project, I did not do the ch-2 or joins. I just working in the round with out joining.

I added 3 rounds of single crochet (SC) in pink bags for contrast before starting the handle portion of the basket.

For handles on this basket, I chained 14 and skipped 9 stitches for opening for the handles on each side. For the next round, work 16 single crochet (SC) around each handle. Then continue working

10 Years Later

April 8, 2018 4 comments

Well it’s been 10 years. 10 years is a long time and I’m so happy to say that 10 years later, I am still cancer free. It has been a whole decade since cancer came a-knocking on my door. I was diagnosed triple-positive for breast cancer back then. I fought it hard with surgery, chemo, and radiation.

You can read all my cancer blog posts here if you are interested in my journey. Maybe you are just starting your journey down the cancer road and if so, I hope you find my blog posts helpful. I know I read lots of different blogs from people facing breast cancer and found them not only useful but inspiring. Reading about others’ battles helps us know that we aren’t alone. Reading how others dealt with certain symptoms, how they responded to treatments, how they overcame or even didn’t overcome certain things is important to read about and understand.

Anyway I wanted to share a 10 year cancer free post and celebrate the milestone. I am thankful to God, family and friends through it all. I have been so blessed and just want to encourage anyone out there who might need a positive thought or read a bit of support from someone who has been there. Hang in there you are not alone. Reach out to others, rely on your faith, your family and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

9 Years Later

October 17, 2017 3 comments

It has been a year since I have made a post in My Pink Journey. As October is breast cancer awareness month, it has become my yearly check-in with you all.

In what I have called My Pink Journey began back in 2008 when I was first diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. 2008 was a year filled with treatment which included surgery, chemo, radiation and Herceptin maintenance for a year. It was a rough and difficult year to say the least. But the good news, I kicked cancer’s butt and have remained cancer free for 9 years now. Wow 9 years feels awesome!

The NFL has a great saying, Make a Crucial Catch regarding breast cancer. I like this slogan and it really applied to me as I found my own lump and got it checked out early. Early detection is very important so do make that appointment, have a mammogram, do self-exams, and above all, be diligent and don’t wait.

So as we wrap up October,

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 27, 2016 3 comments

October is breast cancer awareness month. It is a good time to post an update about my own cancer battle. If you have been a long time reader of my blog you will know that in 2008 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I started blogging about my cancer under what I called my pink journey. You can click on the prior link and read the old posts if you are interested in my experience.

It has been over 8 years now since cancer came a knocking on my door. In the last several years, I can finally rest easier and not have cancer on my mind at nearly every thought. I am so blessed to say that I am still cancer free and just thank God each and every day for my continued good health. So many people are not so lucky.

My heart breaks for those that are battling this beast. I grieve for those who have lost their battle and pray for comfort for their families. Cancer sucks!! I hate it and can only hope that some day there may be a cure. Can you imagine a world without cancer?

4 Years Later

October 12, 2012 6 comments

With October being breast cancer awareness month, it seems like an appropriate time to do a pink post of my own. Four years ago, my whole world was rocked when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. When you get news like that it literally takes you to your knees. I’m reminded of the song lyrics that say we’re all just a phone call away from our knees. Wow how true that is!

Four years ago after I got that phone call, I began what I later called my pink journey. You can read all my blog posts about my breast cancer journey here. Blogging and sharing my experiences through the whole cancer journey was very helpful to me. With the love and support of my family and friends, and my faith, I am happy to say I am a survivor today.

Three Years Later

October 11, 2011 Comments Off on Three Years Later

October is breast cancer awareness month. It just so happens that it has been three years since my diagnoses of breast cancer. And it’s been exactly three years ago that in October of 2008 I finished up my cancer treatments. I haven’t written about what I called My Pink Journey in quite a while so this milestone seems like a good time for an update.

I am thrilled to report that I am cancer free. I just completed recent scans and everything is clear. Many people refer to this as NED (no evidence of disease) and we cancer survivors all love to say that we are dancing with NED. We all hope to continue to be dancing with him forever if possible.

I’ve heard it said that time heals us and while most of my physical issues from cancer have healed, it’s what remains that sometimes fills my thoughts and lingers in the back of my mind as I move forward with my life again after cancer. I’m sure its the same for other people that face this beast, you just hope and pray it never returns.

So as a reminder don’t forget to be diligent against this formidable foe. Self-exams are so important as no one knows a woman’s body better than herself. After all I found my own tumor and even my doctor didn’t think it seemed like anything until after a biopsy confirmed my cancer.

As I reflect back over the last three years, I think the most important thing I want to say is that cancer didn’t beat me. You do learn not to think about it every waking moment. You can get your life back. You are able to return to a new normal in your daily routines. And with the help of my faith, family and friends I am a stronger, better person today for having faced cancer.

Out of the Pink

October 8, 2010 14 comments

Just when everyone is getting into the pink and promoting pink for breast cancer awareness, I’m posting about being out of the pink. My being out of the pink is a really good thing. Because what I’m referring to is my being free of breast cancer.

For those that may not know about my pink journey, you can read all about it at the link provided. I haven’t posted about my cancer in quite awhile. Not that I don’t think about it but sometimes it’s just good not to have to dwell on cancer too much. For the first year after being diagnosed with cancer, that’s all I could do was think about my cancer. At times it felt like I could never NOT think about it. It’s always on your mind and you try real hard not to let it drive you crazy. Then as time goes on, it gets better. It’s not in every thought you have. It’s not the first thing you think about when you wake up and it’s not the last thought you have when you drift off to sleep. You do learn to deal with it or at least come to terms with it.

The battle is never easy and at times unbearable. But for me, time has helped and my body has healed. It’s been just over two and a half years now and with just having completed scans for cancer two weeks ago, I have good news. I am so happy to say — I’m out of the pink and into the NED. NED being no evidence of disease. All I can really say is praise God and try to remember to enjoy each and every precious moment of life.

If you take nothing else from this blog post, I hope you take a moment to be thankful for your health, your life, your family, your faith, and remember all those who are still battling this vicious foe. Some day all our tears will be wiped away and there will be no more pain, no more sadness, and no more death.

Two Years Later

March 10, 2010 21 comments

Two years ago today, I was told that I had breast cancer. I will never ever forget the feelings and utter terror I felt that day. My mind ran through all the different scenarios and I faced some of the most terrifying moments of my life after my diagnoses. As I look back, its the unknown that was the worst. It’s not knowing what the outcome would be and questioning myself about my strength to face this beast.

I have heard many people say that battling cancer makes you a better person. You don’t take things for granted. You love your family a bit deeper and you know how fragile your good health can be. You face your fears. You endure surgery, chemo, hair loss, and radiation. You fight to get well and get your life back as you once knew it. And you remember to enjoy each and every precious minute of your life.

Sure it’s been hard, I won’t try and sugar-coat cancer. There is nothing sweet about it. It tears you and your family apart and you are never the same again. Yes you can get better and yes you learn that you can face your worst days. You heal and become a stronger person for all that you have experienced. You find a new strength within yourself and you move on.

So as I look back on this two year cancerversary, I am thankful to God above and feel blessed that I’m cancer free now. I look forward to many more years of good health, loving my family, and enjoying my life. I know that I am stronger and that I can and have faced cancer. I move on now with a new sense of courage and conviction.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude for all your love, support and prayers. You have all helped me more than you will ever know to be able to endure and succeed in this journey that I began two years ago. Thank you all!

The Whole Pink Thing

October 13, 2009 13 comments


October is breast cancer awareness month. Unless you have been living under a rock, I’m sure you seen all the pink stuff promoting breast cancer. Everywhere you look you find pink stuff. Pink NFL apparel, pink Halloween pumpkins, pink grocery bags, pink hats, pink jewelry, pink signs, pink websites, pink purses, pink key chains, pink coffee mugs, pink umbrellas, pink packaging, pink pink pink pink everywhere. I think you get my drift.

Some survivors feel companies are exploiting breast cancer and just slapping a pink ribbon on everything in an effort to sell their products. I’ve read that the pink ribbon, as a symbol, tends to pretty up what is a pretty ugly disease. Some say the pink ribbon is easier to look at than the disease itself.

Cancer is a nasty, cruel, and deadly beast. It attacks our healthy cells, assaults our bones and blood, destroys our vital organs, and invades our brains. Cancer takes our hair, our loved ones, our body parts and our lives. It causes pain, despair, misery, sorrow, and death. Cancer is not a pretty picture by any means, pink ribbon or not.

Many people feel overwhelmed by the constant pink reminder of cancer. I know I’ve never really been a big fan of the whole pink thing. I remember when I first was diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn’t want anyone to know and I sure didn’t want to wear pink cancer stuff. I remember being given a free pink baseball cap at my cancer treatment center. I did not want to wear it. Maybe I was in denial but I didn’t want to publicize my cancer by wearing pink. Later as I came to grips with my cancer and accepted it, I did wear my pink baseball hat. I don’t know if I am making any sense but these are the many thoughts I have about the whole pink thing. Oh don’t misunderstand my feelings about cancer awareness. If all the pink ribbons will help some women to get their mammogram or do self-exams, I’m all for it. I only hope that companies aren’t looking to profit off all this pink stuff as that just isn’t what this is all suppose to be about.

So please during this month of breast cancer awareness, do focus on the important message in all this. We all want to kick cancer out of our lives and the lives of others permanently. I pray for all those fighting this terrible foe, may you have healing and peace as you move along your journey. But ultimately I hope and pray a cure can be found once and for all!



About Me

Hello, I’m Cindy or aka RecycleCindy. Welcome to my blog site that is dedicated to recycling and crafting. I love to crochet and create crafts and other useful things from recycled materials. I share many free tutorials and patterns for creating recycled projects as well as other handmade items.


Here is a direct link to all my free patterns available here on My Recycled Bags.


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