Surviving Cancer

What happens when you are unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer? So many thoughts ran through my mind and sometimes you don’t know where to begin. You say why me?  Then you wonder if your family is going to be OK and you wonder if the doctors will be able to cure you or if they will be able to help prolong your life and there were just so many unknowns that is ridiculously overwhelming.

Attitude and faith are key factors in my fight. The most important thing I needed was a positive mindset I was better able to focus on a positive result.

The most important thing I found was to actually try to clear my head and pray. It sounds trite, it sounds easy, and it sounds impossible at the same time, but you have to try. I went home and I started a list of all the things I was worried about. I then went through the list and highlighted the things that I could control or affect. Make a list. Prioritize your list so you know where to focus your energy and keep adding to your list as things cross your mind.

I kept a notebook that is just for medical questions and information.  I found that to be very helpful because sometimes at 3:00am I would think of something that I wanted to ask my doctor, and I would jot it down on a pad that I kept next to my bed and then added to my book in the morning.

The best advice I got from one of my doctors was to keep my Internet surfing down to a minimum because no one will ever live long enough to read all the cancer information that is out on the Internet. The Internet is a great place to find doctors for other opinions, and to search out various cancer centers. One thing that I have discovered is that absolutely everyone is different. I was told that I had less than two years to live, and I have been fighting for over nine years. You never know what amazing leaps and bounds the medical profession is making and what is not possible today may certainly be possible in the future.

Some things on my worry list:

Will my husband be ok?

How will my children handle this?

Will I still be able to work

What will happen to everyone I do not survive?

Will I need surgery, chemo, radiation?

Who will help care for me if I need it?

Where should I get a second opinion?

Are there cancer services available to me?

What are the services in my area?

I will keep sharing my thoughts and experiences hopefully you will find some of this helpful on your journey.

Blessings,

MC