Looking for mentor

Kelly,

Please research the 4th Angel Mentoring program started by Scott Hamilton in Ohio at the Cleveland Cancer Center. I obtained a mentor from this program and we correspond regularly via email. She was a stage IVA uterine and I was IIIA uterine. We discuss each others dx, treatment history, checkup status and just general gab. I look forward to seeing her in my inbox! The program has been wonderful for me. ((Hugs))

After reading this thread, you are truly an inspiration and have an incredible spirit! Not sure I qualify as a mentor, but happy to share my journey as a caregiver. My wife was diagnosed with stage IVB uLMS at the age of 60 in December 2020 after having a hysterectomy for what was believed to be multiple fibroids in her uterus. So not quite a young adult like yourself, but certainly young enough and healthy enough to be shocked by the diagnosis! After biopsy confirmed metastatic disease in her lungs, she survived six INCREDIBLY brutal cycles of gemzar/taxotere in the spring of 2021 with a mixed response and just started at least three cycles of doxorubicin in January 2022.

We do not know what the future holds, but one lesson we have learned is that we want to live in and for the moment and we do thank God each morning for giving us another day together. The “journey” over the past year has certainly been the most challenging journey of our lives. The strength, courage, and faith my wife has displayed is nothing short of awesome. While a challenging journey, miraculously, our faith and love for each other has grown immensely.

In terms of your question on what she has done with her time, since the first half of the year was spent in chemotherapy with all of the known side effects (yep, she had severe allergic reactions, extreme fatigue, swelled up like the Michelin Man, neuropathy, chemo brain, bone pain, lost all hair, etc), she spent the second half of the year recovering and regaining strength. We did find the time to plan and take a couple of long-weekend roadtrips in the fall. You had mentioned acupuncture and chiropractor... my wife has found great relief through oncological massage therapy.

You also asked about disability. If you have not pursued this, the Social Security Administration offers what is known as the “Compassionate Allowances” initiative to fast-track the approval process for receiving disability benefits... uLMS definitely is on this list.

Positive thoughts and prayers going to you and your family. God Bless.

United92,

My prayers for your wife and yourself and for a good response to the doxorubicin. I took that same chemo drug along with Vincristine and Rituxin for a previous Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma dx at age 63. I have read of other ladies on this site with lung mets on doxorubin. Perhaps they will reach out to you both.

KAC07062021/Lyn70/cmb,

Thank you all for the well wishes. I was moved to post because of the strength, courage, and incredible spirit KAC0762021 has shown in the short time of starting this thread.

While it appears there are those that have an affinity for cats on this board, I must say our dog Scout has been the most loyal and loving companion to my wife that anyone could ask for!

Continued prayers.