Struggling

Hi again Helen Gettingthere ....sorry for the delay in getting back to you but we have had a house full with our 4 granddaughters staying so still in recovery..... 

First Happy New year and let's look for 2025 to be a good one for us.

I am so glad that the Cairns and the craggy mountain blog struck a chord with you...... I have a very visual mind....... I think it comes from working and then teaching production joinery where you have to start with the end in mind.....

This is how I approached my 25 years journey with my 2 types of rare Lymphoma.... it's was all about controlling the things I could control and trusting the uncontrollable things to my various clinical teams.

The winter is always the hardest to navigate but spring is coming and with that the ability to get and and enjoy the wide open spaces........ we can jump in the car and be here in 10 mins ((hugs))

Hi Mike (Thehighlander)

Thank you for getting back to me. I hope you enjoyed quality time with your family and granddaughters.  

Wishing you a Happy New Year and as you say let’s look for 2025 to be a good one for us.  

I have copied and pasted your blog (I hope that’s Ok?) and saved on my desk top as a reminder as I enter my second year post LC diagnosis.

How delightful it must be to have a beautiful landscape close to home. Stunning picture - thank you for sharing ((hugs))

Helen (Gettingthere)

Thank you for resurrecting this thread. I have my first surveillance scan on Thurs and I could not understand why I was suddenly so much more emotional.  I think I've pushed my anxiety away so hard I didn't know it was there. Now I'm ready to acknowledge it then try to let it go. 

Hi Susan,  I remember my anxiety was sky high when I had my first surveillance scan. Looking back, if it was my friend having her scan I would have said to her it’s only natural to feel emotional given the circumstances.  I read somewhere if we acknowledge our feelings and not get too caught up with them - they pass - as  like the clouds do. Wishing you all the best. Helen 

No problem you having a copy of the blog and I would say it’s a good desktop that will be a great reminder of aiming for the mountain tops ((hugs))

Great informative response,I’ve been around the cancer “journey” since 2008 and utilise many of the techniques mentioned. I was NED for 12 years with 2 young children to focus on -then had a reoccurrence-getting my head around that was/still is more challenging than I thought. I’ve rediscovered mindfulness/outdoor activities as almost therapy/music-never had time for it but now it’s a great companion particularly at night . I also support my 90 year old parents-which I think possibly actually benefits me as much as them. I try to role model open dialogue with my now adult children, as we carry the BRCA cancer gene and they need to see there is life after cancer and it can be amazing-different but still amazing.take care 

Hi karateguineapigs6

Sorry to hear about the recurrence of your cancer. After 12 years you would hope that it was all behind you. As time goes on with experience we mostly get better at managing the challenges in life particularly the cancer related ones.  I know I have.My cancer journey started in 2013 and  like you I had a new occurrence of cancer after 6 years but mine was jaw cancer. This occurrence was very hard for me to come to terms with as I had thought that it was all behind me. I found it harder than the first occurrence. However I came through the op and more radiotherapy fine. I did have a few emotional hiccups and felt very down for a while but the Head and Neck forum helped me through along with my family and my marvelous surgeon who was so supportive. I then had another occurrence 3 years later. I managed this occurrence with a much better frame of mind as I seemed to have worked a lot of the issues through the time before. It is now 3 years since that occurrence. Like you I have found being involved in meaningful activities has made all the difference. It takes me out of the cancer mindset and onto other things. I still enjoy my life and have adapted mostly to my new normal. Life goes on and I still want to be part of it.

Lyn