What kinds of things do you do to take your mind off this monster?

Christine B.

Thank you all for your suggestions about diet in fighting this cancer. You have helped me to let go a bit and enjoy a few of the pleasures of life like eating some of my favorite things. I guess I'm learning about not allowing this monster to completely control my life. I was wondering, what kinds of things do you do that help you to take your mind off of this battle at least briefly? Sometimes I get so scared.
Thank you,
Christine

Chemo_Princess

I like to make jewelry,
I like to make jewelry, knit, and do various other crafts. Spending time with family and friends also helps. It will always be scary, but I am now able to block it out and not think about it all of the time. I have 3 cats--they are great therapy as well.
Blessings to you,
Natalie

poopergirl14052

keep busy
I try to continue to do the things I like baking watch my soaps, work pt as a nurse. I have a hard time at nite when you get to thinking about our illness. I pray a lot and talk to the Lord for guidaence. Keep fighting the good fight,not easy for sure best wishes Val poopergirl14052

clamryn

Stay Busy
I try to stay busy as much as I can. Friends will call me and ask if I want to go somewhere. There are times when I don't because I am really tired. I get myself going and tell them I will be ready. I push myself. I agree the nights are the hardest. Sometimes I will watch TV so that I get so sleepy I will fall asleep.
My suggestion... do what you want to do and enjoy every minute of it.

(((Hugs)))
Linda

MK_4Dani

Stay busy! I try to turn my
Stay busy! I try to turn my thoughts to how cancer has changed my life for the better. Little things that use to bug me I now laugh. For example: dusty furniture no longer bothers me...I draw happy faces in the dust. I also take Lexapro to silence my mind and it does help me chill. When I was receving treatment I purchased all the seasons of Greys Anatomy and watched them all. I also watched a lot of mindless TV to pass the time. I organized many years of pictures. I picked little projects I never had time for and finished them. I found that reading was too hard to concentrate.
What is your age and are you in treatment now?
Mary

clamryn

clamryn said:

Stay Busy
I try to stay busy as much as I can. Friends will call me and ask if I want to go somewhere. There are times when I don't because I am really tired. I get myself going and tell them I will be ready. I push myself. I agree the nights are the hardest. Sometimes I will watch TV so that I get so sleepy I will fall asleep.
My suggestion... do what you want to do and enjoy every minute of it.

(((Hugs)))
Linda

I thought of something else
I thought of something else. Surround yourself with positive people. They will help you more than you know. The negative ones just bring you down.

Linda

Mwee

I agree.. busy,busy
I also try to stay as busy as possible. I quilt, sew, read, cook and I'm usually listening to an audiobook while doing much of that. There are times when it all gets too much and then I come here (thank you all!) and I lean on some other wonderful and positive people. I feel that it my job to try and stay as stress free as possible, but I get scared also.
(((HUGS))) Maria

vj1

Mwee said:

I agree.. busy,busy
I also try to stay as busy as possible. I quilt, sew, read, cook and I'm usually listening to an audiobook while doing much of that. There are times when it all gets too much and then I come here (thank you all!) and I lean on some other wonderful and positive people. I feel that it my job to try and stay as stress free as possible, but I get scared also.
(((HUGS))) Maria

DITTO
I agree, busy, busy. I sometimes think I was given B-12 instead of chemo. I am thankful that I have not had to change my lifestyle because it is even more important not to let this monster overpower me. Don't forget to laugh, especially with those supportive, positive friends and family. Non-positive are off the list! And yes scared enters into it and I agree with Maria, get on this sight and vent. Wonderful gals here!!

Verna

Christine B.

MK_4Dani said:

Stay busy! I try to turn my
Stay busy! I try to turn my thoughts to how cancer has changed my life for the better. Little things that use to bug me I now laugh. For example: dusty furniture no longer bothers me...I draw happy faces in the dust. I also take Lexapro to silence my mind and it does help me chill. When I was receving treatment I purchased all the seasons of Greys Anatomy and watched them all. I also watched a lot of mindless TV to pass the time. I organized many years of pictures. I picked little projects I never had time for and finished them. I found that reading was too hard to concentrate.
What is your age and are you in treatment now?
Mary

Mary, I am 54 and in treatment for stage IV
I was diagnosed on September 10th after a surgery that removed the omentum, tumors in my abdomen, and 7 inches of my intestines due to a blockage. I have what hopefully is a temporary colostomy and change the bag on my side 3 or 4 times a day. The surgery was cut short from doing the planned debulking and hysterectomy because I was losing a lot of blood and my blood pressure was dropping after 6 hours. I have had 3 chemo treatments and after the first the CA 125 had dropped from 2,000 at surgery to 1,000 after surgery to 500 after the first chemo. I don't have the results yet for the second and third chemos. My chemo doctor said that it was time to talk to the gyn/onc about the next surgery. So I will see him on Thursday of this week and the chemo doctor on Friday.

I become the most fearful when I let the negative thoughts come in and try to analyze everything the doctors tell me. I worry about my son and my husband. I am a third grade teacher and worry that I can't return to work and about retiring with medical benefits.
I try to keep positive, and pray to ask God to help me know that he is in control and give me peace. I have the support of my husband who has learned to nurse me and tells me that he loves me more now than any other time in our marriage. I have the support of friends and family too. One amazing event occured during my third chemo when a lady I had known to have survived breast cancer but who was really a stranger to me, walked into the chemo room and began to share about her experience and her husband's who had survived esophageal cancer. She started talking the moment our eyes met and she didn't stop until she turned to be on her way. I really believe she was an angel sent to undo all the negative thoughts and scenarios I'd created in my mind. I will not forget what she said about doctors not knowing everything and that God only knows our days. She reminded me that I need to keep fighting for myself and my family.

Thank you, I will try to remember to keep busy like everyone has suggested. I like to cook and bake and I have some projects that I've started that I'd feel better to get done. I've been watching a lot of football with my husband and son who are avid fans of their seperate teams, but it will be fun to check out some light videos, (Greys Anatomy might be heavy for me, but I really crack up when I watch the Big Bang Theory ;-) I don't know if this should always happen, but I began a prayer at 2:30AM this morning and woke up feeling better at about 6:00AM.

I think it might be be good to take more walks and believe that all will be alright.
Christine