I'm a "survivor"?

SacWayne
SacWayne Member Posts: 1 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Was diagnosed with rectal cancer in Feb '21. Felt like I died that day and I still haven't recovered. Trying to figure out how to be a survivor after everything that's happened in the last (almost) 3 years. At this point I've lost literally everything but my life, car, and a few possessions. I can't do this alone anymore.

I have some support from family, but recently had a break-up after a long term relationship and relocated to a new state. I hope that was rock bottom, but it still feels like I'm there.

I don't know how all this works. I guess I'm looking for guidance. I was going to try and find a support group locally, but there isn't anything close. Figured I'd give this a shot and see how it goes.

Comments

  • cwordwarrior
    cwordwarrior Member Posts: 1 Member
    #2

    9 years in. Made it to see my kids graduate from high school and now I'm alone, still fighting recurrence. Seems like Im disappearing piece by piece both literally and figuratively.

  • christinecarl
    christinecarl Member Posts: 544 Member
    #3

    you sure sound like a survivor to me. I hope you are having a better year.

  • TAllison
    TAllison Member Posts: 1 Member
    #4

    Wayne: Just saw your post from Nov and thought I'd drop you a note and see how you are doing. I was diagnosed with 3B rectal cancer in Sept 2014. Did chemo/radiation, had a 14" section of colon and associated lymph nodes, blood vessels , etc, removed in March 2015. Then more chemo. Certainly wasn't fun but I've been colon cancer free since then. So I'm hoping you are going to have a positive outcome as well. Lots of ups and downs while going thru the process. If you see this, let me know how you are doing.

    Regards!!

    Tom

  • Arx001
    Arx001 Member Posts: 30 Member
    #5

    Hello,

    I had stage 3 rectal cancer in July and now getting close to recovery. This six month period was very tough physically but I had major gains emotionally and psychologically. Let me write why and perhaps it may provide a new perspective:

    • I dumped my old life very soon after the diagnosis. I told myself “your past life is over and your health is possibly gone forever, so you need to readjust yourself.” I’ve been mostly happy (grateful) everyday for being alive except the tough days of chemo where I was under fatigue and major discomfort - still never felt depressed but panicked once as I feared a distant metastasis.
    • Facing death changed my priorities. You know people say before you die your life goes through your eyes and so on… In my case facing death made me realize it was emotions that mattered. My love life specifically including past loves. It wasn’t money, prestige, social gains. Many other emotions too, to a lesser extent.
    • I strongly feel and expect that on my dying moments I will face my life’s final balance sheet and this will be about whether I’ve lived an emotionally satisfactorily life. Love, friendships, caring, animals, nature and the life-positive mentality of a teenager.
    • My children helped me a lot.
    • Can you find a social cause?
    • I’ve been seeing a top (in terms of qualification) psychiatrist before my diagnosis who helped me a lot.

    Long story short, better to keep one's arms not empty, hug someone everyday with deep affection it could even be an animal.

    Best wishes.

    Note: All of us will lose everything including our health, don’t see this as a punishment please.

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