Hi , we haven’t spoken before, and I’ve just read your profile about your diagnosis. I’m sorry to hear your first treatment hasn’t worked. What treatment were you on? Have you just had your results? What has your medical team said to you? How are you feeling symptoms wise? Have they mentioned any clinical trials? Sorry I have so many questions which you might not be ready to answer. When my first treatment stopped working my head was in a whirl and I felt really numb. So many things must be going around in your head.
If you have been told that you are incurable you may want help to let things sink in from the people in the incurables group, I will put the link in for you. Incurable can still be treatable, but there is sub group to the incurables group, for end of life discussions. I have found the group really supportive for making time time matter, for getting used to a decision, and for discussing some practice sides of things, so you may want to have a have a look by clicking on the link.
i am hoping that you have been on either a targeted therapy or on immunotherapy and they may be giving you a bit of a break before changing treatments. I hope they would explain the next steps to you but it’s always a lot to take in when you have bad news and it’s possible to zone out and just not hear the rest of the conversation, but you might have your nurses number to ring and ask them to explain again what happens next.
The Macmillan support line is open 8am to 8pm on 0808 808 0000 and outside those hours if your feeling down the Samaritans offer a 24 hour emotional support service on 116123.
Good morning Ktathome, thank you for taking the time to reply to me. I see you are a community champion, what you do is inspirational to say the least and perhaps one day I'll be able to join you but sometimes, and perhaps you already know this, all you have is pain and tears. I try to do what's right and I know I will climb out of this current pit its just sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel hasn't been turned yet.
Good morning , yes I know the pain and tears bit, that’s when it is difficult to be or feel inspired. Sometimes you have to reach the bottom emotionally before you can emotionally move up to being positive again, and I thank this group and the incurables for being there for me when I need them. Sometimes it just feels better to get the feelings out of your head and read them back objectively and that’s all it takes to feel a bit better. Sometimes I’ve felt numb, then the sorrow and then the determination to get something positive out of each day, while procrastinating about the stuff I don’t really want to do. Emotions are funny things aren’t they, and cancer is very perspective changing.
I’ve been through the thinking this was my last Christmas back in 2015, and it’s not a nice feeling. I appreciate that not everyone’s reaction to treatment is as good as mine, (although some people’s are better) and its hard to think of a time when all options are exhausted wether you are the patient or their friend, and having the energy to make the most of now. We all know it’s nicer to come to terms with our lot and somehow find a positive think to concentrate on, rather than wallow and get stuck in the dark, but it’s really hard sometimes isn’t it.
Music can help me, and my walking, and Pokémon playing, a chat with a friend, crazy golf, codewords, a board game, a computer game, a visit to a National Trust place, sometimes I know I can forget what brings a bit of happiness, and so I don’t know if you’ve seen the “action for happiness thread, 3 good things”, that we have in here and in other places on the forum. At my worst it was hard to find anything good about a day and you have to think hard, then you can either make things happen that will brighten your mood or have a little help from somewhere to do that. I used to work in an historic house which is very near to a hospice. People would visit to have a break and to soak in the lovely atmosphere. I’m rubbish at relaxing but I have had reiki once. Maggies near my hospital has art therapy classes and other stuff.
What are your go to relaxation or happiness things? And is it any good joining me tonight in the 3 good things thread tonight, ummm I hope that doesn’t sound inappropriate, but it might have brought a smile to your face let’s hope so.
the above post is for everyone and anyone to join in if they are feeling either it’s hard to keep positive or if something positives happened that they need to celebrate.
