Do you ever stop thinking it's cancer again?

inkblot said:

Hey Hummer:

I take no offense and appreciate your comments.

My philosophy is fairly straight forward and simple but I want to share here, why I make no references to praying or God, etc.. I make frequent references to spirituality, as most regulars here are aware.

I encourage everyone to nourish their spirit as well as their body, as I believe that one is as important as the other. This involves, typically, a personal belief system and sometimes, a higher power. God, for some. For other's, the traditional religious beliefs don't apply. Our sisters in bc can also be agnostics, athiests, or any of a number of the New Age practitioners. We come from all walks of life. Some may have pre-existing alcoholism, drug addictions, be prostitutes, women in abusive relationships, some may be incarcerated, homeless, nuns or ministers. Rich or poor, selfish or kind. One is no better than or more deserving of care than the other. Cancer doesn't discriminate.

Everyone needs support, nurturing and help. Everyone needs love and caring. Everyone deserves these things, no matter what their circumstance in life may be. It is not for me to judge or to steer anyone into a path of finding God in their desperation. Only onto a path of finding themselves. I say that whatever fills us up and works is a wonderful thing. The label or the name of it isn't important. At least not to me. I see only women in pain, crisis and fear and we're all in the same boat in our human condition, notwithstanding our personal belief systems and practices, financial status, race, creed, color or lifestyle. It doesn't matter where we've been or where we're going. Cancer is cancer. Believers and non believers survive. It doesn't matter whether someone believes that the powers of a Crystal helped them, that God helped them or that they just helped themselves. When we can find peace through our pain, our recoveries...our end of life issues...peace which brings order to our lives and calm to our spirits, peace beyond our nightmare, then we've found it nontheless and the benefits of that are equally important to that person. No matter what someone creidts for it. Invaluable and not to be dismissed by anyone who believes that their particular light is the only light that's the "right" light. And I say that with utmost respect to everyone's belief system. Spirituality is not a "one size fits all" situation.

I am happy for your source of light, happy for my source of light, happy for everyone's source of light. I am happy for your website, because if it does help someone find strength, purpose or fulfillment, then it, too, is a wonderful thing. I believe that you created it from your heart and your belief system and with a good purpose in mind; of sharing your source of strength with others in the hope that they too will find strength in that belief system. That system/approach isn't for me but that's not to say that it isn't equally as valuable as my own or anyone elses. Good and kind intent matters, no matter where it springs from.

I can't resist, so here it goes: A Rose By Any Other Name Smells Just As Sweet. Does it not???
LOL

If I can share something which can help in even a small way; help someone to feel hope, courage or just the strength to get through another day, then I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to share human compassion and caring. That's all. No religious incantations, coersions or subtleties. But strong encouragement for everyone to find whatever spiritual fulfillment works for them.

We all sorely need some light when we're in dark times. I don't judge what "kind" of light someone feels or sees. The important thing is that we find it. Whatever that is for someone, is great, indeed.

Hope it makes sense.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

inkblot said:

Hi sunnyskye:

I can tell you, from my experience, that yes, you can get beyond thinking that every ache and pain is cancer.

When is different for everyone but with time and effort, most people find it possible to take very good care of themselves, have regular check ups and move beyond the hypervigilant mode.

It's wise to listen to our bodies, of course, but becoming a wreck everytime something aches for a while is not a our best way to live. When we accept that we're still going to have aches and pains, viruses, arthritis, headaches, eye strain, pulled muscles, ovarian cysts, days when our systems are just plain off, plus that long list of maladies which come from the fact that we're human beings, we can then help ourselves to be a bit calmer. Steady as we go...get an appoint and get whatever the problem is checked out. Just because something is intermittent or lingers, doesn't mean that it's cancer come to call again. That's all we could do before cancer and that's all we can do after cancer regarding aches and pains. Why make ourselves ill, unnecessarily? My philosophy is that having cancer put my system through enough of a mill and I'm certainly not going to compound the blow by being afraid for the rest of my life...be it short or long. We can worry about cancer when and if we ever have it again. A steady diet of worry and stress and pretty soon, we can find ourselves unable to cope with ordinary things and no hope for handling the big things which life can bring our way. Pain and suffering come right along with the joy and happiness of living. Just two sides of the same coin. We aren't in charge of what's coming at any given time. What we can choose to be in charge of, is our response to these events. To never lose hope that the sun WILL shine again, if we're willing to help it happen. I accept that there is a beginning and an end to everything. I also accept that I cannot anticipate the beginning any more than I can predict the end of any given life event. Many of life's big events can change us, but why not try our best to let the change be as positive as possible? I'm just a die hard at heart. Never willing to give up but forever willing to make adjustments and change course, if need be.

Having been where we've been, no one of us would ever want to go there again. We could also be stricken with any of a whole list of other diseases which we also wouldn't want to cope with. Cancer may return a second time, a thrid time or maybe no next time at all. Why spend our health and peace in such an unproductive direction? If there was something POSITIVE we could do with all that hypervigilant stress and tension, then I'd say fine, let's all get as tense as clock springs and the quicker the better!

My point is that we can do much that's proactive to keep our bodies, minds and spirits healthy and our immune systems at peak performance. Being fearful or feeling threatened by an unseen enemy on a regular basis is not one of those things.

I believe that we are all empowered with the ability to turn our greatest fears into something positive, productive and good for us. We just have to tell ourselves that we are NOT going to remain trapped in the fear and get busy doing all the things we can in order to help ourselves out of it. If we can fight our way through and maintain sanity while being given frightening news, being cut on, hit with major drugs and/or blasted with radiation, even smile during the assaults, then we certainly have a formidable arsenal for fighting our way out of the lingering fear. We just have to realize this, be patient, dig deep and make it happen.

I'm 3 years out from dx and having had cancer does not rule my life. I want something far better for myself and for my family and friends. I realized early on that no one can bring that gift and bestow it upon me. Trust me that it is possible to get there from here. Trust yourself.

Sending good wishes for a good outcome with your next round of testing and hope you will find ways to be less afraid and worried in the meantime. The "meantimes" of our lives are very important.
Perpsective is not easy to come by and not quickly achieved following cancer, but it can certainly be had and you are definitely worth the price of admission. Remember that!

Love, light and laughter,
Ink