Scared

Scared
I don't have a simple answer for making you feel better. Its a very stressful time most of us have been through. I hope there is someone with you that will give you that needed hug. I will be praying that things come out ok for you. Slickwilly

Oncologist visit
I think we all can relate to the stress and concerns that dominate every thought concerning a visit to the oncologist or pending tests and results. I wish I had the knowledge to give you on how to handle it. I am due to see my oncologist next week and every day as the time gets closer it adds stress and worry to my life. It seems like it is something that we all will live with now. I just try to deal with each day as it comes. I sincerely hope that everything goes well for you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please, let us know how things turn out.
Hugs and prayers
Shirley

Pnktopaz10 said:

Scared
Thank you all for your support and caring. My oncologist visit went well and there is no evidence of disease~~Cancer free!! I am so relieved! Do not have to return for three months. What great news! I am going to enjoy every day and a friend told me to do something everyday that makes me happy. I think that is wonderful advice and I will do just that. I love this board and the people on it! Everyone rocks! Thank you Pnktopaz10

Great News
Pnktopaz10. That is great news. It seems that sometimes we have to struggle for some good news on the discussion boards. Enjoy each day you have been given because you can't get it back. Go out and hug all your friends. They might not understand but we sure do. Hugs to you Slickwilly

Pnktopaz10 said:

Great News
Good advice Slickwilly! I feel like I have a whole new lease on life. Never mind the other issues~I can deal with them but cancer free are the best words in the english language. Off to give hugs! Pnktopaz

Pnktopaz
Fantastic, Awesome news. That is really great Pnktopaz. I am so happy for you and may the news continue forever.
As Always Prayers and Hugs
Sandy

Pnktopaz10 said:

Scared
Thank you all for your support and caring. My oncologist visit went well and there is no evidence of disease~~Cancer free!! I am so relieved! Do not have to return for three months. What great news! I am going to enjoy every day and a friend told me to do something everyday that makes me happy. I think that is wonderful advice and I will do just that. I love this board and the people on it! Everyone rocks! Thank you Pnktopaz10

WOOHOOO PINKSTER !!!!!
Congrats kiddo. Fan freakin tastic news. Oh I am so happy for you. Hope you went out and celebrated your butt off. Great to hear. Now you are free to get out there and boogey. Congrats again Pink, couldn't happen to a nicer person. Hugs and blessings, Blueroses

Pnktopaz10 said:

Thank you
You guys rock! How supportive everyone is! I am still celebrating! This wake up call has gotten me to get back in contact with friends from the past and I as so very glad. Still have the side effects of the chemo and radiation but who cares? One thing that I have been doing is being a cancer buddy to anyone I know who has cancer. I have one person right now and she is just starting out on her chemo journey. One thing that I have learned from this board is that support and caring makes all the difference! Hugs, Pnktopaz

Giving Back
This is a common reaction Pink. I have heard it over and over from those who have gone through cancer, after they are finished with it all and some who still battle it in fact. They have this deep pull to give back and help others - in all sorts of volunteer situations. That is a fascinating part of cancer survivorship to me - this pull to give back. I am sure you will make a terrific mentor Pink. Blessings, Blueroses.

Pnktopaz10 said:

Volunteering
Thanks Blueroses. I know how important this board and the support is to me. I have learned that if you reach out there are people there to help. How are you doing? It is looking like spring here in MO. Hugs Pnktopaz

I'm doing
I am still 'doing' so that's something. lol. Still in the twilight zone of postponed surgeries but hopefully this week will bring answers - she says optimistically. It is looking like Spring here too in Ontario Canada. I have two big fields in front of me that are usually all covered with snow but due to milder temps. you can see brown grass now in spots and little mini lacks of melted snow here and there. Sun is shining like crazy so I think I can leave my balcony doors opened this afternoon for some nice fresh Spring air. Looks like a nice day. Hugs, Blueroses.

terato said:

Way to go!
You were perfectly fine all along, but as "we" all know, cancer has a way of keeping us in a permanent state of waiting for that next shoe to drop. Every headache, every constipation, every sore throat becomes that shark back in the water ready to devour our hopes, dreams, and plans for the future. I wonder how many undiagnosed people are living their lives oblivious to what they have in store? I wonder if "we" are the more fortunate ones because we "know the drill" and are, therefore, more prepared, like seasoned veterans, ready to re-engage "the enemy"?

However, "Cancer" does not live in a cave, like a terrorist, somewhere in Pakistan, it lives within us, like a demon, ready for "repossession", if we let our guard down, at least that's the way it feels sometimes. But your cause for worry is behind you now and celebration is very much in order. Sometimes you just gotta say "WTF!" and do whatever you have been denying yourself.

Love, Courage, and Congratulations!

Rick

Not afraid of cancer, just waiting for the other shoe to drop...
Rick, that's a great analogy, about cancer not living in a cave like a terrorist, but within us. I definitely feel that way sometimes. I hate waiting for the other shoe to drop. Can't help it. My mother advised me not go into this website anymore. But do I do what my mother tells me to do all the time? No. She feels that I get too many ideas from here. When I go into the ovarian cancer section (which I do everyday) I read about women whose cancer has recurred. I read about the symptoms of recurrance. But I'd rather be informed so I know what I'm up against. If it did come back I wouldn't just ignore the symptoms and pretend everything is fine. That's what got me in trouble the first time. I ended up at stage 3c. I also mentioned to my mother that I would like to take a small vacation this summer. Right away she said that I have to save my money in case something happens and I can't work. So I told her that it wouldn't be a big, expensive vacation but that if the cancer did come back and I was too sick to take a trip, I'd regret not having gone someplace I've always wanted to go. Getting abit off the subject of myself, just read that Peter Tork of the former Monkees now has cancer. I had a crush on him while in grade school.

Dreamdove said:

Not afraid of cancer, just waiting for the other shoe to drop...
Rick, that's a great analogy, about cancer not living in a cave like a terrorist, but within us. I definitely feel that way sometimes. I hate waiting for the other shoe to drop. Can't help it. My mother advised me not go into this website anymore. But do I do what my mother tells me to do all the time? No. She feels that I get too many ideas from here. When I go into the ovarian cancer section (which I do everyday) I read about women whose cancer has recurred. I read about the symptoms of recurrance. But I'd rather be informed so I know what I'm up against. If it did come back I wouldn't just ignore the symptoms and pretend everything is fine. That's what got me in trouble the first time. I ended up at stage 3c. I also mentioned to my mother that I would like to take a small vacation this summer. Right away she said that I have to save my money in case something happens and I can't work. So I told her that it wouldn't be a big, expensive vacation but that if the cancer did come back and I was too sick to take a trip, I'd regret not having gone someplace I've always wanted to go. Getting abit off the subject of myself, just read that Peter Tork of the former Monkees now has cancer. I had a crush on him while in grade school.

I hear ya, Dream!
My one tumor marker tests in the above normal range in a rare anomaly my specialist called "floating AFP". For years, I have (knock-on-wood) shown no physical signs of tumor, but having this high marker is unnerving, to say the least. Your mom isn't all wrong, sometimes a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, especially when something in someone else's experience hits too close to home, making "you" obsess needlessly. Your mom loves you and only wants to protect you from worry. Ya gotta love moms for stuff like that!

I have crushes on both Sheryl Crow and Christina Applegate!

Love and Courage!

Rick

green50 said:

Enjoy Life
Advice from my oncologist whos dad died of cancer so my dr retired early at 60 and took his wife places, doesn't look over 40. He said, Go places and do things as much as you can as Dreamdove I too want to take a few days vacation. I know we all keep it back of our minds and ask whats going to happen next. But we don't know and should do what we can and enjoy life. We may not be able to have money for a big vacation or physically do certain things but I am going somewhere tired or not and I hope all get to do something this year.
Prayers and Hugs
Sandy

something simple
Enjoying our life as best we can. Today I threw my pain into the wind. My cousin and I put on snowshoes and backpacks. We hiked through the woods and down a frozen river. We climbed up a rather large bank and found a place to sit. In the middle of spruce, birch and pine trees and on top of 3 feet of snow it was so quite you could hear your heartbeat. We gathered some birch bark and lit a fire using a flint. Not because we didn't have matches but because we enjoy the challenge. We had coffee and donuts in a place nobody else has proubly set foot on. I am sure my body will tell me later that I pushed things too far. But the pain will not take away the memory. It was awesome. Slickwilly