treatment over, now what?

daegan

I am 33 years old and I finished treatment almost two months ago. I'm not sure what comes next other than occasional checkups. Just hold my breath and hope all stays well?

ronit

Congratulations on completing treatment! what kind of cancer did you have? What stage? And what was your treatment? No matter what, don't hold your breath - breathe, breathe, breathe and live your life!! Let us be here for you as you take your next steps. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN! Ronit

mactex

ronit said:

Congratulations on completing treatment! what kind of cancer did you have? What stage? And what was your treatment? No matter what, don't hold your breath - breathe, breathe, breathe and live your life!! Let us be here for you as you take your next steps. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN! Ronit

I thought that we would have more lesbians than this. I guess we need to move this discussion to a WNBA game. ha.ha. I have tickets to the San Antonio team, but I am from Houston and love the COMETS!!!!!!! Go Comets!

What has it been like for you, daegan? Tell me your thoughts on being gay and having this health issue? Are you out? Are you out to your doctors?

What has been the most challenging situation by being gay and sick? My favorite is asking me why I am so confident that I am not pregnant. ha. it is biology not confidence. ha.
Hope to hear from you. And you too ronit!!!!!

stpjlm

mactex said:

I thought that we would have more lesbians than this. I guess we need to move this discussion to a WNBA game. ha.ha. I have tickets to the San Antonio team, but I am from Houston and love the COMETS!!!!!!! Go Comets!

What has it been like for you, daegan? Tell me your thoughts on being gay and having this health issue? Are you out? Are you out to your doctors?

What has been the most challenging situation by being gay and sick? My favorite is asking me why I am so confident that I am not pregnant. ha. it is biology not confidence. ha.
Hope to hear from you. And you too ronit!!!!!

just hang in there my partner and i have been together for 32 yrs. going thru it closely together

KimInBeirut

I keep wondering the same thing! Finished treatment 2.5 months ago, and go for a follow-up next month. I can't wait to go, because I just want to hear SOMETHING!

Chemosabe02

KimInBeirut said:

I keep wondering the same thing! Finished treatment 2.5 months ago, and go for a follow-up next month. I can't wait to go, because I just want to hear SOMETHING!

Have you received any good advice on how to recover after treatments? My oncologist just says "use common sense, don't do more than your body will allow. Eat right and exercise when you can." I need something beyond that. Have you found any good sources of advice?
Thanks.
Doug
PS I just ended chemo regiment #2 yesterday. First was ABVD, second was Stanford's V. I was only in remission for 6 months between chemo therapies. So I never learned much about post treatment recovery.

ronit

Now that treatment's over, now what? I totally disagree with Chemosabe02 doctor. Are you kidding? There's more to life than "just using common sense!" I can offer two suggestions, one from my own life and the other from my book. What I found out about my own life, as a caregiver whose partner died, is that I re-evaluated my life completely after that. Now I lost both my parents a few months before so that may be the reason for a total "overhaul" of my life, but still, I worked very hard in therapy and took the time to think. It really resulted in many changes, most of which I am very happy about.
My second suggestion is an author. I have just written "Breast Cancer" FOR DUMMIES (it's in the FOR DUMMIES series, hence the title which I hate) and in it I have a whole chapter on life after diagnosis which includes life after treatment. It is full of things you may wish to consider. (The book is purchasable from Amazon.com but actually is only going to be ready in July sometime.) I hope it will be helpful. Actually, being on this discussion board is a great start (see my message on chat rooms.)
Love, Ronit

kal5359

ronit said:

Now that treatment's over, now what? I totally disagree with Chemosabe02 doctor. Are you kidding? There's more to life than "just using common sense!" I can offer two suggestions, one from my own life and the other from my book. What I found out about my own life, as a caregiver whose partner died, is that I re-evaluated my life completely after that. Now I lost both my parents a few months before so that may be the reason for a total "overhaul" of my life, but still, I worked very hard in therapy and took the time to think. It really resulted in many changes, most of which I am very happy about.
My second suggestion is an author. I have just written "Breast Cancer" FOR DUMMIES (it's in the FOR DUMMIES series, hence the title which I hate) and in it I have a whole chapter on life after diagnosis which includes life after treatment. It is full of things you may wish to consider. (The book is purchasable from Amazon.com but actually is only going to be ready in July sometime.) I hope it will be helpful. Actually, being on this discussion board is a great start (see my message on chat rooms.)
Love, Ronit

Two weeks ago I had my thryroid and lymph nodes removed. Going in next week for radioactive iodine treatment. Has anyone here any info on this treatment? BTW....I am a lesbian whose partner is the most loving, supportive, awesome person...unfortunately lives 100 miles away...but we are in this together and she comes to stay with me on every day off she has. This is my first time in here....thanks for listening.

kayetera

kal5359 said:

Two weeks ago I had my thryroid and lymph nodes removed. Going in next week for radioactive iodine treatment. Has anyone here any info on this treatment? BTW....I am a lesbian whose partner is the most loving, supportive, awesome person...unfortunately lives 100 miles away...but we are in this together and she comes to stay with me on every day off she has. This is my first time in here....thanks for listening.

Hi kal, I am a lesbian who is new to this group too and newly diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. I had my thyroid removed in late Nov 2003 and had my radioactive iodine treatment last wednesday. Are you under the care of an endocrinologist? Are you presently on Synthroid or other thyroid replacement hormone therapy? The surgery is unable to completely remove all the thyroid tissue in the neck, that is why it is necessary to have the radioactive iodine treatment. But in order for the treatment to work properly, your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels must be high so that any remaining thyroid cells will absorb the radioactive iodine.

I am so glad to hear that your partner is supportive. Mine is too and it is a relief.

I am involved in a wonderful support group dedicated to just thyroid cancer. There are several there who have lived with thyroid cancer for years and are very knowledgeable. There is also an online support group through yahoo. I am not advocating leaving this group, because there is room for both, just as an additional source of support. www.thyca.org and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Thyca/ I've been told that there are several lesbians who are members of the group, although I'm new to that group too and haven't met them yet :-)

There are many articles on the treatments and what to expect. Feel free to email me privately if you wish tmitch@amaonline.com

Teresa

ZoeyLee

Hi, i am new to cancer network. Glad to get to know you gals. Many people ask me this question as well. Can cancer patients be totally cancer-free and live on for the rest of their life? Recovering from cancer should not only depend in the conventional treatment. Many alternative and complementary treatments are important as well. Such as family support, religion, yoga etc...I personally feel that yoga is a very good complementary treatment for cancer. most importantly, DO NOT give up! There is always hope in our life! God Bless...