How do YOU get through the overwhelming times in the cancer journey?

bluerose

Having one of those overwhelming times myself right now, they come and go with life's challenges as they arise - for me it has been up and down for 23 years since diagnosis with ongoing side effects of treatments and well, just life. I was wondering if everyone could benefit from input on this subject as to how others cope with those overwhelming times that can just freeze you in your tracks????????

For me my faith has gotten me through many of these times but sometimes it's all I can do to even think to pray. Know what I mean?

I'm sure alot of us could benefit from others experience with this subject as I'm sure we have all been there, at one time or another. Any ideas?

Blessings,

Bluerose

sal314

Faith and Friends
My faith in God is probably the most real and comforting thing that gets me through the day. As well as amazing friends that always have a listening ear to me many, many venting sessions! LOL. It really helps me to talk, talk, talk about what I'm feeling and my fears.

Life can be overwhelming i know. I'm a almost 10 year breast cancer survivor with 2 young special needs children. To top it off, I've been dealing with my fathers terminal cancer diagnoses of 11 months. He past away 3 weeks ago today. SO...I know what stress is! I know what heartbreak is. I know the overwhelming fear that uncertainty about ones health and the future of special needs children feels like. Sometimes I want to just runway and never come back. BUT...my faith is what carries me. Jesus said in this world you will have troubles. But take heart, for I have overcome the world. So...it's all in your perspective. Regardless of life's circumstances, I choose to hang on to God,trust him and be thankful for all the small victories. I take great pleasure in the little things of life and just try to make the most of each day.

Ugh......that was a long rant! Sorry:)

Blessings,
Sally

bluerose

sal314 said:

Faith and Friends
My faith in God is probably the most real and comforting thing that gets me through the day. As well as amazing friends that always have a listening ear to me many, many venting sessions! LOL. It really helps me to talk, talk, talk about what I'm feeling and my fears.

Life can be overwhelming i know. I'm a almost 10 year breast cancer survivor with 2 young special needs children. To top it off, I've been dealing with my fathers terminal cancer diagnoses of 11 months. He past away 3 weeks ago today. SO...I know what stress is! I know what heartbreak is. I know the overwhelming fear that uncertainty about ones health and the future of special needs children feels like. Sometimes I want to just runway and never come back. BUT...my faith is what carries me. Jesus said in this world you will have troubles. But take heart, for I have overcome the world. So...it's all in your perspective. Regardless of life's circumstances, I choose to hang on to God,trust him and be thankful for all the small victories. I take great pleasure in the little things of life and just try to make the most of each day.

Ugh......that was a long rant! Sorry:)

Blessings,
Sally

Hey Sally, when you gotta rant you gotta rant, lol
Rants are totally acceptable on this site, we all have been through so much and have alot to say so rant on my friend. Heavan knows I do. lol.

I am so sorry to hear about your Father's passing but he is at peace now and that is a comfort I'm sure.

Sure does sound like you have alot on your plate with 2 special needs kids too. Wow. You are my new hero. I hope you get some help from time to time and from what you say the friends you have are helping with support so that's good. I think that's the area where I find it very hard. The friends I had are distant, sick of all my health issues I guess, I can understand that but it's difficult for sure on your own. I have my faith too, thank goodness, that does help bigtime.

Anywho thanks for your comments.

Take care of yourself.

Blessings,
Bluerose

palmyrafan

sal314 said:

Faith and Friends
My faith in God is probably the most real and comforting thing that gets me through the day. As well as amazing friends that always have a listening ear to me many, many venting sessions! LOL. It really helps me to talk, talk, talk about what I'm feeling and my fears.

Life can be overwhelming i know. I'm a almost 10 year breast cancer survivor with 2 young special needs children. To top it off, I've been dealing with my fathers terminal cancer diagnoses of 11 months. He past away 3 weeks ago today. SO...I know what stress is! I know what heartbreak is. I know the overwhelming fear that uncertainty about ones health and the future of special needs children feels like. Sometimes I want to just runway and never come back. BUT...my faith is what carries me. Jesus said in this world you will have troubles. But take heart, for I have overcome the world. So...it's all in your perspective. Regardless of life's circumstances, I choose to hang on to God,trust him and be thankful for all the small victories. I take great pleasure in the little things of life and just try to make the most of each day.

Ugh......that was a long rant! Sorry:)

Blessings,
Sally

Faith
Sally,

I couldn't agree more. My Faith is what has carried me through this long journey.

I was diagnosed with multiple meningiomas in 1994. Had the surgery, radiation, sinus surgery etc., and the tumors have still come back. Some of them are in places that can't safely be operated on or radiated and I am on watch and wait. Again.

But I actually view this whole journey as a Blessing. Not the cancer itself, but the journey. I have an amazing husband who says that I was drafted but he enlisted and he is in it for the duration. He says if I don't get an out then neither does he.

My faith in the Lord has been what has kept me sane. I know that God has a plan for me. I wasn't supposed to survive the surgery (20% chance) but I did. It was only supposed to be an 8 hour surgery, but ended up being 18 hours instead. And yet, through it all, my faith has kept me strong.

Don't get me wrong, there are times when I just don't know how I am going to put one foot in front of the other. I have good days and bad days and some days the bad days seem really bad. But God reminds me to focus only on one day at a time and that all I have is the present, not tomorrow, because it has not arrived yet. And in the end, I know that my brain cancer can't follow me when my spirit soars to heaven. That is God's promise and that is what makes my spirit soar.

I'm also in therapy; have been since this journey started. It helps that my therapist is a licensed MSW who specializes in chronically ill patients so she has a better understanding of what we go through. I also have specialists who know how important my faith is to me and have even prayed with me in the hospital.

We all have our coping mechanisms that see us through. Mine is my faith.

Angela_K

palmyrafan said:

Faith
Sally,

I couldn't agree more. My Faith is what has carried me through this long journey.

I was diagnosed with multiple meningiomas in 1994. Had the surgery, radiation, sinus surgery etc., and the tumors have still come back. Some of them are in places that can't safely be operated on or radiated and I am on watch and wait. Again.

But I actually view this whole journey as a Blessing. Not the cancer itself, but the journey. I have an amazing husband who says that I was drafted but he enlisted and he is in it for the duration. He says if I don't get an out then neither does he.

My faith in the Lord has been what has kept me sane. I know that God has a plan for me. I wasn't supposed to survive the surgery (20% chance) but I did. It was only supposed to be an 8 hour surgery, but ended up being 18 hours instead. And yet, through it all, my faith has kept me strong.

Don't get me wrong, there are times when I just don't know how I am going to put one foot in front of the other. I have good days and bad days and some days the bad days seem really bad. But God reminds me to focus only on one day at a time and that all I have is the present, not tomorrow, because it has not arrived yet. And in the end, I know that my brain cancer can't follow me when my spirit soars to heaven. That is God's promise and that is what makes my spirit soar.

I'm also in therapy; have been since this journey started. It helps that my therapist is a licensed MSW who specializes in chronically ill patients so she has a better understanding of what we go through. I also have specialists who know how important my faith is to me and have even prayed with me in the hospital.

We all have our coping mechanisms that see us through. Mine is my faith.

On faith . . .
Faith has been my rock as well. Faith in my doctors, faith in my choices, faith in my family, faith in my friends, faith in all of our prayers, and above all, faith in my God. (Quotes from 'Two Listeners' are especially inspiring.)

I have learned to not hesitate to ask others to pray for me, especially when I become overwhelmed with it all. That way, if I forget to pray, I know others are.

Having cancer has been a blessing for me and as strange as it sounds, I am grateful for the experience. Although the treatment and long term side effects of treatment for anal cancer can be tough, I have learned so much from this journey and this rare cancer.

I am a better person having been through the experience and continue to grow spiritually in
my recovery.

Angela_K

palmyrafan said:

Faith
Sally,

I couldn't agree more. My Faith is what has carried me through this long journey.

I was diagnosed with multiple meningiomas in 1994. Had the surgery, radiation, sinus surgery etc., and the tumors have still come back. Some of them are in places that can't safely be operated on or radiated and I am on watch and wait. Again.

But I actually view this whole journey as a Blessing. Not the cancer itself, but the journey. I have an amazing husband who says that I was drafted but he enlisted and he is in it for the duration. He says if I don't get an out then neither does he.

My faith in the Lord has been what has kept me sane. I know that God has a plan for me. I wasn't supposed to survive the surgery (20% chance) but I did. It was only supposed to be an 8 hour surgery, but ended up being 18 hours instead. And yet, through it all, my faith has kept me strong.

Don't get me wrong, there are times when I just don't know how I am going to put one foot in front of the other. I have good days and bad days and some days the bad days seem really bad. But God reminds me to focus only on one day at a time and that all I have is the present, not tomorrow, because it has not arrived yet. And in the end, I know that my brain cancer can't follow me when my spirit soars to heaven. That is God's promise and that is what makes my spirit soar.

I'm also in therapy; have been since this journey started. It helps that my therapist is a licensed MSW who specializes in chronically ill patients so she has a better understanding of what we go through. I also have specialists who know how important my faith is to me and have even prayed with me in the hospital.

We all have our coping mechanisms that see us through. Mine is my faith.

On faith . . .
Faith has been my rock as well. Faith in my doctors, faith in my choices, faith in my family, faith in my friends, faith in all of our prayers, and above all, faith in my God. (Quotes from 'Two Listeners' are especially inspiring.)

I have learned to not hesitate to ask others to pray for me, especially when I become overwhelmed with it all. That way, if I forget to pray, I know others are.

Having cancer has been a blessing for me and as strange as it sounds, I am grateful for the experience. Although the treatment and long term side effects of treatment for anal cancer can be tough, I have learned so much from this journey and this rare cancer.

I am a better person having been through the experience and continue to grow spiritually in
my recovery.

Angela_K

palmyrafan said:

Faith
Sally,

I couldn't agree more. My Faith is what has carried me through this long journey.

I was diagnosed with multiple meningiomas in 1994. Had the surgery, radiation, sinus surgery etc., and the tumors have still come back. Some of them are in places that can't safely be operated on or radiated and I am on watch and wait. Again.

But I actually view this whole journey as a Blessing. Not the cancer itself, but the journey. I have an amazing husband who says that I was drafted but he enlisted and he is in it for the duration. He says if I don't get an out then neither does he.

My faith in the Lord has been what has kept me sane. I know that God has a plan for me. I wasn't supposed to survive the surgery (20% chance) but I did. It was only supposed to be an 8 hour surgery, but ended up being 18 hours instead. And yet, through it all, my faith has kept me strong.

Don't get me wrong, there are times when I just don't know how I am going to put one foot in front of the other. I have good days and bad days and some days the bad days seem really bad. But God reminds me to focus only on one day at a time and that all I have is the present, not tomorrow, because it has not arrived yet. And in the end, I know that my brain cancer can't follow me when my spirit soars to heaven. That is God's promise and that is what makes my spirit soar.

I'm also in therapy; have been since this journey started. It helps that my therapist is a licensed MSW who specializes in chronically ill patients so she has a better understanding of what we go through. I also have specialists who know how important my faith is to me and have even prayed with me in the hospital.

We all have our coping mechanisms that see us through. Mine is my faith.

On faith . . .
Faith has been my rock as well. Faith in my doctors, faith in my choices, faith in my family, faith in my friends, faith in all of our prayers, and above all, faith in my God. (Quotes from 'Two Listeners' are especially inspiring.)

I have learned to not hesitate to ask others to pray for me, especially when I become overwhelmed with it all. That way, if I forget to pray, I know others are.

Having cancer has been a blessing for me and as strange as it sounds, I am grateful for the experience. Although the treatment and long term side effects of treatment for anal cancer can be tough, I have learned so much from this journey and this rare cancer.

I am a better person having been through the experience and continue to grow spiritually in
my recovery.

jengen12

Mom and dad
Both my parents have cancer and we handel it by not calling it cancer...we call it "Bob". So when my mom goes to the doctor..she says let me see how Bob is doing. Mostly faith and trying to live everyday like nothing wrong has helped us. We have gone back to life really. Parents take 20 minutes just spa time..watch something funny just to pass the time when the thought of cancer crosses their minds, taking a walk. .....

Lifes a Journey, their maybe bumps but i will overcome them.........

bluerose

jengen12 said:

Mom and dad
Both my parents have cancer and we handel it by not calling it cancer...we call it "Bob". So when my mom goes to the doctor..she says let me see how Bob is doing. Mostly faith and trying to live everyday like nothing wrong has helped us. We have gone back to life really. Parents take 20 minutes just spa time..watch something funny just to pass the time when the thought of cancer crosses their minds, taking a walk. .....

Lifes a Journey, their maybe bumps but i will overcome them.........

Love that idea of calling it 'Bob'
What a great idea. Just saying or thinking the word 'cancer' can bring a person down sometimes so calling it 'Bob' or any other name really can help I'm sure. Great idea.

Thanks everyone for your input, I too give it all up to The Big Guy, as I call him. Hope that this response finds you all doing better today than yesterday but not half as good as tomorrow.

Blessings,

Bluerose

thomasman

pray.
stay out of my head without adult supervision. pray. sometimes it's just talking to God. i like to get out into the world and see if i cant do something to brighten someone elses day. those bumps in the road along the journey can be a bugger, but keep on trudgin. this, too shall pass.

yv1214

thomasman said:

pray.
stay out of my head without adult supervision. pray. sometimes it's just talking to God. i like to get out into the world and see if i cant do something to brighten someone elses day. those bumps in the road along the journey can be a bugger, but keep on trudgin. this, too shall pass.

Unfortunately for me...
and for those around me they say I have shut down. I tend to act like life is normal when I know for a fact that it isn't. Thank goodness my mom has enough faith for the both us. Although lately she has been having mini-meltdowns. I think it is finally sinking in that she might not have much longer.

bluerose

yv1214 said:

Unfortunately for me...
and for those around me they say I have shut down. I tend to act like life is normal when I know for a fact that it isn't. Thank goodness my mom has enough faith for the both us. Although lately she has been having mini-meltdowns. I think it is finally sinking in that she might not have much longer.

Counselling really helps
I sound like a broken record with this 'counselling' suggestion but it really does help alot of people when dealing with cancer from any position in the journey, patient, family member, friend. As a survivor I still seek the occassional meeing with a good grief counsellor or psychologist about the grieving process - grieving the loss of my health and it truly helps to 'unstick' me from a stage I can't move past - a grieving stage I mean.

YV, really think about that for both your Mom and you, it could make all the difference.

Blessings,

Bluerose

ian93

how I cope
It is what it is. crying about it wont change anything and will just make you more upset. That's how I saw it. It was really hard for me to even accept the fact i had cancer, it all happened so fast. Im just happy to be alive and have a greater appreciation for life and im gonna enjoy it. Nobody truely appreciates how great life really is until its almost taken from them.