Stage 3 and 4 diagnosis

2»

Comments

  • RosePenny
    RosePenny Member Posts: 1
    One year clear

    I am three years out from having the diagnosis of stage 3a Triple Negative Breast Cancer. 5 lymph nodes positive, with a 5.5 centimer lump. The cancer metatized to my right lung last year. My medical team did surgery and were going to resection my right lower lobe, but the lab test  came back as lung cancer while I was on the table. I woke up to being told I had lung cancer, and they had removed my whole lower right lung lobe. Later lab tests showed it was a bc lung met. Go figure. I didn't have chemo afterwards, as my oncologist was hopeful this was the only spread. He and I wanted to keep chemo in reserve, since it is pretty well the only option for triple negative cancers.

    A year later, and my last test came back clear. I feel happy yet scared, as I am under no treatment other than living as healthy as I can... Scans every six months as a reminder, and some other health issues from the surgery and chemo. I hope to become a very long time survivor!

     

    hugs Rose

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    RosePenny said:

    One year clear

    I am three years out from having the diagnosis of stage 3a Triple Negative Breast Cancer. 5 lymph nodes positive, with a 5.5 centimer lump. The cancer metatized to my right lung last year. My medical team did surgery and were going to resection my right lower lobe, but the lab test  came back as lung cancer while I was on the table. I woke up to being told I had lung cancer, and they had removed my whole lower right lung lobe. Later lab tests showed it was a bc lung met. Go figure. I didn't have chemo afterwards, as my oncologist was hopeful this was the only spread. He and I wanted to keep chemo in reserve, since it is pretty well the only option for triple negative cancers.

    A year later, and my last test came back clear. I feel happy yet scared, as I am under no treatment other than living as healthy as I can... Scans every six months as a reminder, and some other health issues from the surgery and chemo. I hope to become a very long time survivor!

     

    hugs Rose

    Hello everyone

    Hello everyone,

     nice to see this thread gowing. I am 6 years suvivor of stage III C and 2 years survivor of stage IV breast cancer.

    Rose, at breast cancer board we have long term survivors as well. I always come back to this post for encouragement and inspiration

    Get well 

  • Kimrosec
    Kimrosec Member Posts: 5
    abrub said:

    Stage 4 Appendix cancer
    Diagnosed April 2007. Had multiple surgeries and chemos (intraperitoneal and systemic.) Treatment completed April, 2008. So far, no recurrences, and being given every indication of a good long term prognosis. I'm fully active, and doing great.

    Alice

    How are you doing

    Hello Alice. It's been 3 years since you posted that you were doing well since your stage IV appendix cancer diagnoses and, now that my husband was recently diagnosed with goblet cell appendix cancer, I came across your post and wondering if you're still doing well. I trust that you are and would love to hear more about it. Thank you.

    Kim

  • GodsCall
    GodsCall Member Posts: 2
    Tethys41 said:

    My naturopath
    My naturopath had stage IV ovarian cancer 20 years ago. She did not follow standard treatment, no surgery, no chemo, but got her tumors under control through diet, lifestyle, and integrative therapies, like high dose vitamin C. She is currently very healthy, despite the fact that her tumors remain. She keeps them in check by following a very expanded version of the concepts presented in Anti-cancer.

    Anti-cancer

    Dear Teth,

    Was interested in your Naturopath's "method" and what you are referring to with "Anti-cancer".  I read a book called Anti-Cancer - A New Way of Life.  I thought maybe that was it, but don't know.

    Anyway, I am Stage 4 Triple Negative BC and right now just juicing to try to slow it down.  Sounds like that is what she is doing too.  No sugar, no flour, no meat, no processed food.  At least most of the time.  I do cheat from time to time, but mostly this is my life now.

    Can't wait to get my masticating juicer which will be here September 17th.  Till then using a Juiceman Jr.

    Any tips would certainly be welcomed.

    Thanks G.

  • caseyjmc
    caseyjmc Member Posts: 4
    Ladymonk said:

    Stage IV Endometrial, almost 20 years & Counting...
    For Jazzy1 and others, if it offers anything worthwhile:
    I was diagnosed with uterine ca when I found a lump under left arm. Thought it was breast cancer, but biopsy showed it was not the primary. It originated in the uterus, spread to abdomen, chest, neck & left axilla. This was in the 1980s. I had a ton of chemo & radiation (a lot stronger and more primitive stuff then), achieved a partial remission. Repeated treatments several months later, and the remission attained was pretty promising, as far as could be determined. And yes, it returned- regularly, every few months, at least yearly, for nearly 9 years. I can't count how much chemo, radiation, surgery, etc, I've had without referring to the pages and pages of files in our attic. I think I've had most of the acronyms of the time- VBM, MOPP, etc. I've had "superradiation" for "hot spots", and a whole lot of other stuff that wasn't fun. But the point is this: after all those years of treatment, during the last round of chemo & radiation, it went into remission and just never returned. No magic bullet, it was really just one more round of crap, to achieve yet another remission. I have had no evidence of recurrence since 1992.

    All that being said, I offer the following to you, although your cancer is different from mine, or the next person's- you are uniquely you: For a long time, you will question every ache, every cough, every headache, etc, that comes along. You will be in hyper-vigilance for quite a while. Embrace it- it's your body's way of protecting you. You may feel like the neighborhood neurotic for a while, but follow up on anything that worries you. In time, with each success, this will recede. But for now, it is really your brain's way of taking care of your body. If you learn some stress management techniques, it will help you to cope rationally with this markedly altered lifestyle. Networking with others who have walked your walk will help, as will prayer, massage therapy, yoga, hobbies, etc.

    Do you remember when you were first diagnosed, when suddenly every moment became so much more precious? I recall getting up really early at times to sit on a rock at the ocean (I lived in Maine then), just to watch the sunrise over the water. I didn't know how many more I'd get to see, and each experience became a lot more special. I remember promising myself that, if I were allowed to live, I would never lose that sense of wonder again, that every moment would be savored, every relationship cherished. Unfortunately, after nearly 20 years, life has become "business as usual", and I take things for granted and gripe about stuff as much as anyone. Maybe that's a good sign... And yes, I've had a pretty fair amount of after effects from treatment, mainly pain issues and a few cardiac, thyroid, stuff, (lots of stuff to gripe about!) but the gifts far outweigh the disadvantages. I have seen my children grown, educated, launched, married, I have been present at the births of many grandchildren. 13 years ago I met and married a remarkable man who has been my rock. Life is good, whether it lasts for six more months or fifty years...

    When I was in the early stages of "terminal", a dear friend came to see me and made all the difference. I was very angry, you see, striking out at anyone and everyone. I had three young kids and was in the middle of a divorce (ex hubby couldn't deal with a sick wife), and I was pretty ticked off at the world. I was angry at old people, because I would never get to grow old. I was angry at a friend attending her daughter's wedding, because I knew I wouldn't get to do this with my own. I was, most of all, angry at this evil thing eating at my body and robbing me of time. My friend came and sat me down and this is essentially what he said: "Yep, they told you that you probably won't live much longer. There are a lot of things you cannot control any more. But there is one thing over which you have total control: You can continue being a (bleep) and leave your kids with sorrowful things to recall of your last weeks or months together. Or, you can use this time to build beautiful memories to sustain them when you are gone from them. The choice is yours." I have never forgotten that day; it was my watershed. And it was the day that I decided to begin to fight this disease. And attitude, my dear fellow traveler, is absolutely everything.

    Sorry this is so long. It's my first post. I taught nursing for years, don't know when to shut up (*grin*). I wish you well, and would be happy to communicate...

    ps- don't be afraid to use complementary and/or integrative medicine, just don't abandon the scientific mainstream stuff. I have used Laetrile in Mexico, direct injection of chemotoxic drugs into tumors in Germany, yoga and reiki, massage therapy, visualization techniques, etc. Who knows what worked? Does it matter? Nutrition is imperative- even if you don't feel like eating, do. I lived on smoothies for ages, with organic yogurt, and lots of fruits & veggies, fresh seafood (hey, we lived in Maine!) long before we understood antioxidants and omega 3s. Just be sure that your physicians know everything you are taking.

    After treatment jitters

    Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. I'm afraid I'm focussing on every ache as you described.

    I was diagnosed September 2014 with Extrapulminary Small Cell Carcinoma Localized in Lymph Nodes. This is an impossibly rare form of small cell that exists in only one area of lymph nodes. Generally, small cell is aggressive and metastasized when discovered, and is usually in an organ. When it is localized in lymph nodes, the prognosis is excellent with chemo and radiation, according to the only study that exists (Google the whole name and you'll find it!).

    I finished my simultaneous chemo and radiation treatment just before Thanksgiving, and was told the lump of affected lymph nodes was gone. My oncologist even said I was cancer free. My first CT scan will be in February 2015 (a month from now).

    The last few days I've been experiencing intermittent headaches. It started in my left temple with a sudden couple of sharp pains, then went away, but came back several times for a minute or so, not as strong. Maybe 4-6 times each day, and in other locations in my head, but now they are just dull and short-lived throbs. My nurse oncologist said it doesn't sound like cancer symptoms, but if they keep on and get worse, they'll scan my brain.

    I went through all of my treatment with a wonderful attitude, even to the point of seeing the cancer as a gift (OMG! means Opportunities, Miracles and Gifts), and the response of the lump to my treatment was amazing. I need to get my mind back to OMG!

    Anyway, thanks again. It's nice to know I'm not alone with my after treatment jitters.

  • philylady
    philylady Member Posts: 1
    Ladymonk said:

    Stage IV Endometrial, almost 20 years & Counting...
    For Jazzy1 and others, if it offers anything worthwhile:
    I was diagnosed with uterine ca when I found a lump under left arm. Thought it was breast cancer, but biopsy showed it was not the primary. It originated in the uterus, spread to abdomen, chest, neck & left axilla. This was in the 1980s. I had a ton of chemo & radiation (a lot stronger and more primitive stuff then), achieved a partial remission. Repeated treatments several months later, and the remission attained was pretty promising, as far as could be determined. And yes, it returned- regularly, every few months, at least yearly, for nearly 9 years. I can't count how much chemo, radiation, surgery, etc, I've had without referring to the pages and pages of files in our attic. I think I've had most of the acronyms of the time- VBM, MOPP, etc. I've had "superradiation" for "hot spots", and a whole lot of other stuff that wasn't fun. But the point is this: after all those years of treatment, during the last round of chemo & radiation, it went into remission and just never returned. No magic bullet, it was really just one more round of crap, to achieve yet another remission. I have had no evidence of recurrence since 1992.

    All that being said, I offer the following to you, although your cancer is different from mine, or the next person's- you are uniquely you: For a long time, you will question every ache, every cough, every headache, etc, that comes along. You will be in hyper-vigilance for quite a while. Embrace it- it's your body's way of protecting you. You may feel like the neighborhood neurotic for a while, but follow up on anything that worries you. In time, with each success, this will recede. But for now, it is really your brain's way of taking care of your body. If you learn some stress management techniques, it will help you to cope rationally with this markedly altered lifestyle. Networking with others who have walked your walk will help, as will prayer, massage therapy, yoga, hobbies, etc.

    Do you remember when you were first diagnosed, when suddenly every moment became so much more precious? I recall getting up really early at times to sit on a rock at the ocean (I lived in Maine then), just to watch the sunrise over the water. I didn't know how many more I'd get to see, and each experience became a lot more special. I remember promising myself that, if I were allowed to live, I would never lose that sense of wonder again, that every moment would be savored, every relationship cherished. Unfortunately, after nearly 20 years, life has become "business as usual", and I take things for granted and gripe about stuff as much as anyone. Maybe that's a good sign... And yes, I've had a pretty fair amount of after effects from treatment, mainly pain issues and a few cardiac, thyroid, stuff, (lots of stuff to gripe about!) but the gifts far outweigh the disadvantages. I have seen my children grown, educated, launched, married, I have been present at the births of many grandchildren. 13 years ago I met and married a remarkable man who has been my rock. Life is good, whether it lasts for six more months or fifty years...

    When I was in the early stages of "terminal", a dear friend came to see me and made all the difference. I was very angry, you see, striking out at anyone and everyone. I had three young kids and was in the middle of a divorce (ex hubby couldn't deal with a sick wife), and I was pretty ticked off at the world. I was angry at old people, because I would never get to grow old. I was angry at a friend attending her daughter's wedding, because I knew I wouldn't get to do this with my own. I was, most of all, angry at this evil thing eating at my body and robbing me of time. My friend came and sat me down and this is essentially what he said: "Yep, they told you that you probably won't live much longer. There are a lot of things you cannot control any more. But there is one thing over which you have total control: You can continue being a (bleep) and leave your kids with sorrowful things to recall of your last weeks or months together. Or, you can use this time to build beautiful memories to sustain them when you are gone from them. The choice is yours." I have never forgotten that day; it was my watershed. And it was the day that I decided to begin to fight this disease. And attitude, my dear fellow traveler, is absolutely everything.

    Sorry this is so long. It's my first post. I taught nursing for years, don't know when to shut up (*grin*). I wish you well, and would be happy to communicate...

    ps- don't be afraid to use complementary and/or integrative medicine, just don't abandon the scientific mainstream stuff. I have used Laetrile in Mexico, direct injection of chemotoxic drugs into tumors in Germany, yoga and reiki, massage therapy, visualization techniques, etc. Who knows what worked? Does it matter? Nutrition is imperative- even if you don't feel like eating, do. I lived on smoothies for ages, with organic yogurt, and lots of fruits & veggies, fresh seafood (hey, we lived in Maine!) long before we understood antioxidants and omega 3s. Just be sure that your physicians know everything you are taking.

    not dx yet

    Dear Jazzy,

    I just joined today preparing for the worst.  I am 62, been on HRT probably too long, and am overweight.  I started spotting three weeks ago and immediately

    went to the Ob/gyn. They scheduled my hysteroscopy for this Thursday. Yesterday I had the vaginal ultra sound. I got the results. The endometrium is 13 mm.

    I am expecting cancer.  I found your post hopeful and this is not the end of my life.

    I hope and pray you are still in remission.

    I am going to print your message on my refrigerator as an inspiration to keep fighting. My life has been hell with so many orthopedic surgeries.

    I hope I can fight another fight if cancer is my diagnosis.

    Blessings and peace for you and your family.

    Charlotte

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,353 Member
    philylady said:

    not dx yet

    Dear Jazzy,

    I just joined today preparing for the worst.  I am 62, been on HRT probably too long, and am overweight.  I started spotting three weeks ago and immediately

    went to the Ob/gyn. They scheduled my hysteroscopy for this Thursday. Yesterday I had the vaginal ultra sound. I got the results. The endometrium is 13 mm.

    I am expecting cancer.  I found your post hopeful and this is not the end of my life.

    I hope and pray you are still in remission.

    I am going to print your message on my refrigerator as an inspiration to keep fighting. My life has been hell with so many orthopedic surgeries.

    I hope I can fight another fight if cancer is my diagnosis.

    Blessings and peace for you and your family.

    Charlotte

    Charlotte,
    I am hoping it all

    Charlotte,

    I am hoping it all turns out to be nothing, and waiting is the hardest part, but if you need help I would recommend you visit the Uterine chat board here on Cancer Survivor Network.  I think you will find the women there will welcome you with open arms and help you fight this beast.

    Try to not to get too far ahead of yourself here, this is one step at a time and finding out what you are dealing with is first.

    I am sorry to say "jazzy", known and loved as Jan by the women on the Uterine board, left us late last year.  We all took it extremely hard, but she has touched so many lives and continues to do so through the history of her posts. 

    Again, I would encourage you to visit the Uterine board when you find what you are dealing with and if you need help.

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    ron50 said:

    I was dxed with stage 3c

        Colon cancer back in 1998. I have had no recurrance since and am into my sixteenth year of survival. I may not have had cancer but my treatment insured a host of medical problems of an auto-immune nature. I have severe motor-sensori peripheral neuropathy,severe psoriatic arthritis and nephrotic syndrome. Ron.

    Life goes on

      This month on 22nd I end year 17 of survival from stage 3c colon cancer into six nodes. Unfortunately one of the chemo agents I was on was levamisole an immuno-modulator It was banned in 2001 for often fatal side effects . I took around 220 tablets of it. I am cancer free but suffer an unknown auto immune disease of the kidneys . I take cyclosporine to control nephrotic syndrome. With treatment i lose 1 gram of protein a day thru my kidneys. Untreated 7 grams. I have moderate auto immune hepatitis, severe auto immune neuropathy of both feet and legs and left hand. I have auto immune psoriatic arthritis. I have an auto immune problem with my endocrie system causing low testosterone and under active thyroid. I have type two diabetes from being treated with 75mg daily of prednisone for nearly two years as well as calcium loss and lower spine degeneration. I suffer an unknown auto immune problem causing up to 13000 premature ventricular and atrial ectopic heart beats a day and in Rem sleep my oxygen levels drop below 80% resulting in my using cpap every night. I am now 65 ,my health broke up my marriage so I have lived on my own for ten years and I still work every week as a sewing machine mechanic. Surviving survival is not easy.....Ron.

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member

    Hello everyone

    Hello everyone,

     nice to see this thread gowing. I am 6 years suvivor of stage III C and 2 years survivor of stage IV breast cancer.

    Rose, at breast cancer board we have long term survivors as well. I always come back to this post for encouragement and inspiration

    Get well 

    Something else has suffered , my arithmetic

     I was operated on on jan22 1998 , so this will be end year 18 start year 19.

  • libby.sparks
    libby.sparks Member Posts: 12
    pinky104 said:

    UPSC survivor

    I am a stage IVb UPSC survivor.   I was diagnosed at the end of March in 2010, had my surgery in May of 2010, and started 6 rounds of carbo/taxol in June of 2010 and finished it in Sept., 2010.  I've had no reoccurrences, thank God. I'm 65 years old now and other than aches and pains and a few minor other health problems, I'm doing well. My cancer had spread to both ovaries, the omentum, and the ilium, but not to any lymph nodes.  It was considered stage IV because it had gone out of the pelvis. 

    I want to tell you that I always enjoy what you have to say on the uterine cancer discussion board.  You give very good advice. You've helped a lot of people.  I actually thought you had survived uterine cancer longer than I have from all the knowledge you impart to everyone. 

    surviving USPC

    Dear Pinky

    It is so encouraging to read your post. I pray you continue to be very very healthy.

    I too was diagnosed with stage IV USPC (August 2015). Ovaries Fallopian tubes appendix colon omentum and one of 52 lymph nodes possible isolated cancer cells. I just finished carbo/taxol (6 cycles). had a CT last week, waiting for results. CA125 fell from 1218 to 7. 

    I am reading many different things that I hope restore and maintain a healthy body. Keeping the focus on health rather than on being ill feesl right to me.

    I'm really hoping that I will follow your course. If I do have a recurrence, I'm not sure I agree that chemo and radiation are the right thing; for me anyway.  

    Restoring balance and health (emotionally, spiritually, physically) makes sense. 

    How did you cope with the fear of recurrence?

    All the best

    Libby

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    edited March 2017 #32
    another one down

    End year   19 start year 20. Still ca free , still working , still living on my own....if you call it living. Ron.

  • LadyMox
    LadyMox Member Posts: 56 Member
    edited September 2018 #33
    Ladymonk said:

    Stage IV Endometrial, almost 20 years & Counting...
    For Jazzy1 and others, if it offers anything worthwhile:
    I was diagnosed with uterine ca when I found a lump under left arm. Thought it was breast cancer, but biopsy showed it was not the primary. It originated in the uterus, spread to abdomen, chest, neck & left axilla. This was in the 1980s. I had a ton of chemo & radiation (a lot stronger and more primitive stuff then), achieved a partial remission. Repeated treatments several months later, and the remission attained was pretty promising, as far as could be determined. And yes, it returned- regularly, every few months, at least yearly, for nearly 9 years. I can't count how much chemo, radiation, surgery, etc, I've had without referring to the pages and pages of files in our attic. I think I've had most of the acronyms of the time- VBM, MOPP, etc. I've had "superradiation" for "hot spots", and a whole lot of other stuff that wasn't fun. But the point is this: after all those years of treatment, during the last round of chemo & radiation, it went into remission and just never returned. No magic bullet, it was really just one more round of crap, to achieve yet another remission. I have had no evidence of recurrence since 1992.

    All that being said, I offer the following to you, although your cancer is different from mine, or the next person's- you are uniquely you: For a long time, you will question every ache, every cough, every headache, etc, that comes along. You will be in hyper-vigilance for quite a while. Embrace it- it's your body's way of protecting you. You may feel like the neighborhood neurotic for a while, but follow up on anything that worries you. In time, with each success, this will recede. But for now, it is really your brain's way of taking care of your body. If you learn some stress management techniques, it will help you to cope rationally with this markedly altered lifestyle. Networking with others who have walked your walk will help, as will prayer, massage therapy, yoga, hobbies, etc.

    Do you remember when you were first diagnosed, when suddenly every moment became so much more precious? I recall getting up really early at times to sit on a rock at the ocean (I lived in Maine then), just to watch the sunrise over the water. I didn't know how many more I'd get to see, and each experience became a lot more special. I remember promising myself that, if I were allowed to live, I would never lose that sense of wonder again, that every moment would be savored, every relationship cherished. Unfortunately, after nearly 20 years, life has become "business as usual", and I take things for granted and gripe about stuff as much as anyone. Maybe that's a good sign... And yes, I've had a pretty fair amount of after effects from treatment, mainly pain issues and a few cardiac, thyroid, stuff, (lots of stuff to gripe about!) but the gifts far outweigh the disadvantages. I have seen my children grown, educated, launched, married, I have been present at the births of many grandchildren. 13 years ago I met and married a remarkable man who has been my rock. Life is good, whether it lasts for six more months or fifty years...

    When I was in the early stages of "terminal", a dear friend came to see me and made all the difference. I was very angry, you see, striking out at anyone and everyone. I had three young kids and was in the middle of a divorce (ex hubby couldn't deal with a sick wife), and I was pretty ticked off at the world. I was angry at old people, because I would never get to grow old. I was angry at a friend attending her daughter's wedding, because I knew I wouldn't get to do this with my own. I was, most of all, angry at this evil thing eating at my body and robbing me of time. My friend came and sat me down and this is essentially what he said: "Yep, they told you that you probably won't live much longer. There are a lot of things you cannot control any more. But there is one thing over which you have total control: You can continue being a (bleep) and leave your kids with sorrowful things to recall of your last weeks or months together. Or, you can use this time to build beautiful memories to sustain them when you are gone from them. The choice is yours." I have never forgotten that day; it was my watershed. And it was the day that I decided to begin to fight this disease. And attitude, my dear fellow traveler, is absolutely everything.

    Sorry this is so long. It's my first post. I taught nursing for years, don't know when to shut up (*grin*). I wish you well, and would be happy to communicate...

    ps- don't be afraid to use complementary and/or integrative medicine, just don't abandon the scientific mainstream stuff. I have used Laetrile in Mexico, direct injection of chemotoxic drugs into tumors in Germany, yoga and reiki, massage therapy, visualization techniques, etc. Who knows what worked? Does it matter? Nutrition is imperative- even if you don't feel like eating, do. I lived on smoothies for ages, with organic yogurt, and lots of fruits & veggies, fresh seafood (hey, we lived in Maine!) long before we understood antioxidants and omega 3s. Just be sure that your physicians know everything you are taking.

    I am 42 and just have been

    I am 42 and just have been diagonised with Stage IV Endometrial, at the moment despite that I am in good health, though the chemo I started is taking it's toll. I feel I am so young and won't make it to 45 nontheless even to 50. Your story gives me some hope that maybe I can make it longer term even if the chances are slim; There is still a chance.

  • CraigPlus2
    CraigPlus2 Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2021 #34
    So many amazing stories

    I was diagnosed with Stage IV Testicular Cancer in October of 2008, just a week after my second son was born. I was getting my chemotherapy treatment as an outpatient for several months until a tumor burst a blood vessel on the right side of my brain in February of 2009, the brain bleed and surgery has left me to be a hemiplegic with left side weakness. I was then transferred up to UCSF Medical Center where I had several more rounds of chemotherapy which wasn't working as well as they had hoped so they removed some of my bone marrow to be saved then reinjected after they killed me with a higher dose of chemo. After that did not work to reduce my tumor markers, they gave my family 'the talk’ to prepare for the worse, but luckily my now ex-wife demanded that they try another round of high dose chemo which worked. It worked so well in fact that I never went into remission and went straight into cancer free! I like to call my son Gage, my cancer gauge, for his age is the same as when I was diagnosed and I went from being on maturity leave to being permanently disabled. 


    What got me through the long days laying in the hospital bed was to stay positive and to be thankful for at least one thing as I began to fall asleep at the end of the day. I knew how easy it would be to go down the rabbit hole of negativity and that only ends up feeding into more negative thoughts. I truly believed that cancer couldn’t kill a positive person.  


    What has kept me going on the days since then is to really appreciate the little things in the world around me that I used to take for granted. I see the beauty in the things in the world around me in new found respect for the simpler things. Also, when I asked my oncologist what the odds were that I would get cancer again, he told me that my odds were the same as his but mine would most likely get caught sooner since my tumor markers are checked yearly. 


     


    Here is where I shared my story: https://sites.google.com/view/CraigvsCancer/home 

  • anniemshe
    anniemshe Member Posts: 91 Member
    Gratitude

    I was initially diagnosed with Breast cancer stage 2 just a year after I had my daughter in 2008. Did the whole mastectomy, chemo and radiation. All clear n progressing well. Then wham bam 2017 just a few months shy of my 10th cancer free anniversary- stage 4 - metastasis to bone Radiation AGAIN - targeted at the bones and now on lifetime medication. Yes the fear is there.. a tinge here, a pull there and it rears its ugly head - fear - will I see my daughter graduate? Aches and pains that my Doctor waves away as aging issues. But every morning I thank God I'm alive! I can function, work and live an almost normal life. I'm grateful for the time I have. The family that's SO supportive and feeling loved by family and friends daily is such a blessing!! Life is almost normal. So yes stay positive and enjoy life the best we can.