Anniversaries of cancer diagnosis

Hi  and welcome to the Online Community, although I am sorry to see you finding us.

First congratulations on being a few years down the road, yes it does take time and some persistence to develop strategies to move forward post treatments.

I am over 20 years down the road from a diagnosis with a rare type of Lymphoma that I was first told would get me in the end, some day, some year?....... and I would never see remission.

Zoom forward 17 years to September 2016 when out of the blue I was told that I was in Remission and NED (No Evident Disease)...... result!!!

My story is long and rather traumatic (Hit Thehighlander to see my story)....... but every day I see sunlight I celebrate as the other side of the coin could have been much much worse.

Make a cup of tea and have a look at this great paper as even being down the post treatment road it will identify the milestones of recovery.

When you feel up to it try putting some information in your profile. This really helps others when answering. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. Just click on YOUR username, select 'Edit Profile'. Put as much or as little in your profile and you can amend it at any time - you can see members profiles by hitting our forum names.

Keep posting as we can start to unpack this part of the journey ((hugs))

Hi Olivia2,

 I am the same but it doesn’t matter what time of year it is, I have panic attacks, flashbacks, feel sick and panic over every ache, pain, bump, bruise and scratch. I sound like a neurotic cat!, ha, ha, ha.

 I told my doctor about it and he told me that it’s only natural! Great help, not.

A few lovely people on this forum have mentioned the Maggie’s Centre, which help a lot of people. I am going to visit my local one next week. As I am finding everything hard and I am not coping very well.

Anyway, it’s lovely to make your acquaintance.

With kindness,

Yes Lisa LisaCardiff, a Maggie’s Centre is a great place to go and unpack the rucksack of stuff we collect during and after treatment.

Up in the Highlands folks will do the 3-4 hour round trip once a week to go to the "Where Now?"course - worth checking this out

It’s my one year anniversary of my diagnosis with womb cancer tomorrow. I thought by now I would be fine but I’m not, still having pain and am not back to anything like I was before. I didn’t anticipate it would be so life changing. But I’m trying to adjust to a new normal. At least I’m cancer free

x

Hi, Galanthophile

I don't think a suitable handbook has been found that properly unpacks the post treatment part of a cancer marathon.

Life changing for sure, but I think the cancer journey puts a lot of our past life stuff into prospective......... we sort of pigeon hole stuff that once was seen as important to be just that less important and promote stuff like 'living life' to a higher position in our thinking.

At times, living the post cancer journey is like living in a parallel universe - you can see your old life but regardless what you do you can not get back on that same path. 

Following my many years of treatment and now 4 years into my post treatment life, a situation I was unwillingly put into. It did actually make me review life and everything that we once thought important. 

So some things from our old life are still in our lives but various aspects of our old life that were once seen as important were put in the bin and we don’t miss them.

If you have not had a look at this great paper - please do.

((hugs))

The paper you mention is excellent. Your words strike many chords with me. In general all of this has made me realise how content I am with my life. I have supportive friends and family and a wonderful husband. Work is no longer important and I’ve decided not to go back. I want to get better and enjoy life. Thanks again for your lovely reply x

Hi again Galanthophile  - good to hear that you have found some order in your post treatment life and are striving to 'enjoy life'  

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, it would be worth checking out Maggie’s Centre. These places are great and I 100% recommend the "Where Now?" course.

Keep on keeping on and grasp life with all your strength ((hugs))

I discovered Maggie’s a few months ago and they’ve been wonderful. The staff and the “patients”. I can’t recommend them highly enough. As soon as I walked in I knew it was what I’d been looking for :)

Thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry to hear that you are in the same boat, and that you are still getting flashbacks. I hope that Maggie's helps. I've used them in the past and they have been a tremendous support.

I am glad that I am not alone in how I feel. I had no idea when I started on this 'journey' how long it would last for! But I've read some amazing stories on this website which have really encouraged me. And this weekend, I'm determined to focus on the present-including the lovely autumn colours and blue skies!

So, thank you again and I do hope that you find Maggie's helpful

With warm wishes

Olivia2

To Mikethe Highlander-I've read your story. It is an amazing account of perseverance and optimism in the face of awful illnesses. It has helped inspired me to focus on all the good things in life. Anniversaries of cancer diagnoses do pass quickly-as I have realised this week!  

With warm wishes and thanks

Olivia2