Last edited Tue Feb 16, 2016, 11:17 AM - Edit history (1)
ETA to change, and it's an important change because I said it wrong, and it matters. Not that I had a 20% survival rate, but that only 20% of those diagnosed with my type cancer and its stage are still alive after 5 years.
I wouldn't say it was ending just yet. Only 20% of patients with my type and stage cancer survive beyond 5 years. I'm two years in now. I remain cautiously optimistic. That's as far as I can go.
Like a lot of other cancer patients I judge time by the next scan result. I'm OK now. That's good. Now it's time to count off the next 6 months.
It sounds a lot more negative than it actually is. I'm not living in fear for the next 6 months. I'm just aware that anything can change in those 6 months. Cancer isn't my life, but my life does include cancer.
I wish you didn't have to become intimately familiar with the rhythmic measure of time cancer meters out.
(blood work/treatment/xrays/scans, blood work/treatment/xrays/scans, blood work/treatment/xrays/scans )
But, the plus side, when it feels as if everything is out of your control, you realize that you're in control of how you approach your treatment. Stay positive, but don't be afraid to feel the bad times. Some days you will be angry, and some days you will want to wallow. Cut yourself some slack and be angry - go ahead and wallow....but don't allow either emotion to take over.
Above all, laugh. Make jokes. There were times when I laughed so hard during treatment that my nurses had to leave the ward because they were laughing just as hard at something I found funny.
We all love you, alfredo, and we are all here for you. Just as you all have been here for me.
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