This time last year I’d been scanned, diagnosed, staged, pre-opped and was waiting for my op date. I’d just heard that I was seeing the consultant on New Year’s Eve. I honestly don’t remember much of last Christmas, in fact nothing at all, which likely means I role-played it and just got through it. One year on and I’ve had my op, had my treatment and am now on check ups. Am I ok? I hope so - but none of us really knows for sure. At least we know there was or is something amiss - the ones I feel for are the ones who may have something wrong and don’t know.
When we can manage it, a positive mental attitude is a good thing - but it’s not worth berating or beating ourselves up over it if we’re not feeling it. That just adds pressure to what’s already a pressure-laden situation! This last year I’ve preferred instead to aim for being pragmatic - just getting on with it and doing what needs to be done. There are some women out there who decide they can’t go through with scans, hysterectomy or treatment - and that’s their choice. But to all of you here who have chosen to face all this and move forward, WELL DONE! You may not be feeling brave but you’re doing it. And that’s being pragmatic.
So, as Christmas 2022 approaches, I would like to thank those here who have been there for me to chat, laugh and rant with through this random odd year. Yes I’m moving forward, and am gradually feeling more like myself, but once you’ve had cancer, you’re never quite the same again. And whilst that’s partly sad, it can also be turned into a positive as far as other people are concerned. I can help educate those who don’t have experience of cancer, and I know more about how to talk to those who do. I met a man a couple of weeks ago at church who has untreatable prostate and bone cancer, and within a minute or two we were talking in depth and also laughing. That was a blessing to both of us.
So I would like to wish you all a Peaceful Christmas and a Pragmatic New Year! We can get through this together. If you’re just not feeling Christmas, come and post here and let us support each other.
Bless you all!
