diagnosed with stage 2 Esophageal Cancer

[BreakfastClub]

26. Get a second opinion. There are so many new treatments

coming out for cancer. It's truly a revolution happening in how it is treated. If you have HBO, watch the show Vice: Killing Cancer. There really is so much happening right now and you have reason to feel hope.

No doctor knows when or if you will die. The doctor who said that to you is WRONG. He has no idea other than statistics, and everyone is different. Some people do get cured of "incurable" diseases. There's no reason to think that you can't be one of them. Find a doctor with compassion and get the best you can get.

Clinical trials - Search clinical trials here if you find there's not presently a mainstream treatment for your disease. My aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer that has metastasized to her brain. That was TWO YEARS AGO and she is still holding her own in a very successful clinical trial. The first doctor she saw said she had a few months. She said, fuck you, and found someone with some compassion and optimism. She is happy and lives her life, much like Valerie Harper who was also told she was terminal, and is still doing very well with new treatments working for her too.

As for optimism, it is very important for anyone dealing with an illness. Take a holistic approach to this. Your thoughts and emotions are important for your health too. If you are depressed, please find a therapist to talk to. Find a good one (they're not all good), and one who meshes well with you.

As I said, this is not hopeless by any stretch of the imagination. None of us know what the future holds and where our journey will take us. Be positive.