WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?

God first and family second.  I'm so tired right now and I'll give a better post tomorrow but the first thing upon waking is praying.  It's hard getting through this but you will and you'll come out a stronger person.  I'll repost tomorrow.

Kim

thxmiker said:

Dwell on the positive

No doubt having cancer is a new way of life, but do not let Cancer define you.  

 

Let's see, You are a business man, a community leader, a Dentist, a Father, etc....  These are the things that define you.  Cancer is just an annoying disease that gets in the way.  

 

When ever I have got down, the powers that be, God, or how ever you want to define it, has introduced and let me help someone who is much worse off then me, I feel stupid that I even got down on myself.  I do not have it that bad. (If you do not know me, I got told in Nov 2012 to get my affairs in line,) I seeked better Doctors that were having better results with their patients. I now have a plan, and so far it is working for me. We just met a family who the brother has wide spread cancer. We met with them and gave them a bunch of books that have motivated us to Juicing and a better Diet to improve our immune systems. Introduced them to this site, and keep them in our prayers.

 

Hold your head up high and Live Life!  

Best Always,  mike 

first  i want to welcome you to our unique community.we are very supportive of eachother(most of the time)as with any family we do have some conflicts on here but i usually stay out of it.i see you are the same age i am.i was dx sept 2008 stage 3 went thru xeloda chemo and radiation was able to be reconected in feb 2009 did 10 treatments of oxy and 5fu pump that almost killed me.i have permenant neuropathy in hands and feet.then in jan 2011 when i thought i was still all clear WHAM i got the news it was in my liver and one lung.soo back to different chemo irrinatecan and had liver resection in sept2011.then more hard chemo with avastin until my platelets went south and would not come back up enough to get back on avastin.started taking xeloda pills and tried different options to get my platelets up nothing worked so in feb2013 had my spleen taken out because it has a reserve of platlets.now i am on xeloda pills and avastin will be on chemo for life as i now have at last count in feb 38 spots in my lungs.the reason for all this info is first i want to say ,What keeps me going is our gloryous Lord,He holds my hand everyday and carries me thru everything.then my family and church friends.another important one that gets me thru each day is i have been blessed to be able to have 2 horses.as you see in my avatar picture this is my baby she is 4 years old now but i have had her since she was 4 months old.i dont ride but all i do is love her and she gives me love back.pets are one of Gods gracious gifts i hope you have a few.this disease is doable just dont give up.good luck and ...Godbless....johnnybegood

Laz,

Like most, God and family are my motivation.  In addition to that, I just feel like I haven't fulfilled my purpose here.  I wish that I could offer you more "words of wisdom" but I am still finding my way through this myself.  I can, and will, keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

This board has been a source of great comfort and strength as I have read through the trials and tribulations. 

Mary Carol

ron50 said:

Nothing much
I survive because I do. No great philosophies , no religion. Basically I survive because I knew I would. Right from the start I knew with certainty that ca did not kill me. It has been 151/2 years since my stage3c diagnoses. Several things have come close to killing me since but not ca. Just one of those unexplainable things. Ron.

Keep on going Ron. Always an inspiration. 

When people see me ( and right now, it ain't a pretty sight), they say, "I'm sorry that you have cancer" and I tell them "I look and feel this way because of the chemo. The cancer was Excised back in November"  

And that's part of my motivation. 

Thought I'd add a little more to my first post but besides God and Family knowing that you have a great team of doctors on your side is a very important part of your getting through.  If you don't like or trust them, then you will not be able to move forward with a confidence that you need for the upcoming events and appointments that will be facing you.  Don't be afraid to lean on people either.  I'd always try to do things for myself, but when you need help or you just don't feel like doing it "yourself" ask.  Write down how you are feeling even if it is a weekly log, you can write whenever you what, whatever you want.  It helps you express yourself and it will be there for later when you can look back and say, I've been through all this and I'm still going.  You can get through this, and some days will seem like forever.  We are here for you so ask what you need, and express what you need.  Glad that you found us.

Kim

It is easy

1. My family
2. My faith
3. I want to stay around a long time and be a little old lady..........

During surgery and treatment what kept me going was my husband reminding me that I wanted to live to see our son on his own, happy, and in a relationship.  I almost quit my treatment - many, many side effects- it was very hard!  But my goal kept me going.  This September  - 3 and a half years out from initial diagnosis, I will see my son walk down the aisle with his love.  I'm pretty sure I'll make it until then - well cancer won't stop me.

Now, post-treatment, goals keep me going, and appreciation of life's little things - one of the bonuses of being a cancer survivor.  

Good luck to you Laz.  Surgery and treatment are a challenge and a roller coast ride - just keep thinking ahead to the end.  It helps.

my wife of 56yrs is in a nursing home for alzheimers.  She needs me, so I have to keep going.  God doen't give us any choiice.  

Onlly He will determine which is to be my last day.

My faith, family, friends and my csn family they are what have kept me going. Oh and I forgot me, you are also what keeps you going because you are a fighter.

I have to say, after reading everyones posts that past few days, I've been thinking each night if I was going to reply. 

And, then i thought... "joe if you reply will you be honest, or 'say what everyone wants to hear?'.

Well, I have to say it... 

Fist let me appologize for "sniping" the post as this might go off in an unexpected direction.

I was brought Catholic. 12 years of catholic eduction. Jesuit Priest for high school teaching Be A "Man for Others" as their foundation to raising teenage boys into Men.  I am married to who has now become my best friend.... for 24 years, who was not raised Catholic.

we have four kids and we're raising them catholic.  

I am diagnosed stage IV colon cancer in November 2011.... I've had 2 surgeries, 50 chemo treatments and everything has been all cancer for 20 months.

so, my family is what is keeping me going.

Gotcha... you were thinking my faith. Instead my faith has gone to being mad. I feel like I am being punished for something. Jesus didn't deserve to die... but he did it to save the sins of others. 

is a cancer patient taking hte bullet for the sins of those around him?

If God is all knowing, why is there childhood cancers? He can control all things... then why do sick people continue to pray for good things... only to get a new drug to help the fight.  Its a simple question, and it disturbs me to say it...  But God, where are you?

The devil is winning this fight and this entire battle. People raising major money for all cancer charities, events and paying all the bills to these oncologists and cancer centers.... moving lots of money, appearing to be moving lots of caring people to take care of a bunch of dying people... all for big money

Great!

then, I get a card from a friend that says "God only gives you what you can handle".

I am 49 years old, and yes, i can handle a lot.... but the person who said that to me has to be the most unthoughtful person I've encountered.

I hope my "quetioning of God and his presence in our lifes is something that is short lived, but that's where I'm at with my faith."

why would God take the father away form four young kids? Kids need a month AND a father. (especially a father as cool as me)

Why would God take the husband from a 24 year marriage, we have too many single, divorsed and/or lonely poeple in the world.

Why would God take the youngest son from a Mom?

Why would God take the youngest brother from 2 sisters and 1 brother?

Why would God take the owner/leader and boss of a small business that employes 120, which is doing so many great things for our compunity and creating lifestyle for our employees and their families?

Sorry, I know its a pitty party.... but I'm Pushing On and Fighting Hard for my Wife, Four Kids, My extended families of relation, work, customers and others.

I'm waiting for the signs to help understand all of this. I'm hoping I don't stay mad at God, but it sure is hard to go to church.

I say to my wife.... I sure am Glad everyone else goes to Church to pray for us... cuz it sure is hard for me to pray for me.

So, my only prayer these days is "why God?"  "Why Cancer?"

then, I quickly say... If you cannot help me, help everyone else who has helped me... and please please pleases God, NEVER give this terrible crap to my wife or my four kids.

Hugs

Joe

(I look forward to everyones reply)