What the Future Holds
Well all my initial treatment is over. I can't believe I've gone through 7 months of chemo and radiation. There were days, hours and minutes that I thought I couldn't do it, but I did. I am anxious though about what happens next. I will see the doctor next week and I assume we will discuss how I will be monitored. How can we make sure the cancer does not return? What a scary thing to now live knowing that the cancer could return at any time. What do I do now? I've done everything so far the doctor has told me to do, but now that treatment is over what do I do? How do you live without worrying about cancer? I guess I will now again be taking life one day, one hour and even one minute at a time. I'm scheduled to go stay with my Dad and other family in Michigan next week. We are approaching the one year date of my Mom's death. I feel more anxiety over that. I can't believe it's been almost a year. Probably the most difficult year of my life and my Mom wasn't here with me. I'm sorry a year has gone by already. It almost feels like every day that goes by she is further away from me. I do have faith, but it's hard to keep when you don't feel good. I"ll try to stay positive and faithful and with support I'll move forward. Right???......
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My sister gets blood tests to check whether cancer returns to her. I think it is called C-125, but don\'t hold me to that. It might depend on the type of cancer one had, too. Maybe not all have blood tests.
She now feels it is not a matter of if it returns but when, considering how the past year has gone for us.
She is almost 5 years from diagnosis.
You are right. A positive attitude will help you a lot, but it is hard to feel positive with your head in the barf bucket.
Here are some positive thoughts coming your way! >>>> :)
Yes, you WILL keep moving forward! I can\'t imagine going through what you have this past year but you have done it and it is behind you now. I know some people who have had a pulmonary embolism like me and they do live in fear that they will have another and that it will kill them. But what way is that to live? I hope and pray that this will make you live each day to it\'s fullest and cherish each moment you have with your family and friends. Please take care and God bless you!
Remember we did it before and we can do it again. However, think about what you truly want, not what you don\'t want to come back. Try not to think about the cancer you had. Think about what you want to do for you kids, your career, your job, your family. Your positive thoughts will attract other positive thoughts. Think energy, Think fun, Think peace. I have just started reading the book, \"The Secret\" by Rhonda Byrne. Haven\'t figured out if I believe everything in the book, but it is an intriguing way to look at life. I do believe that positive thinking has healing powers.
YEAH!! You\'ve hit another milestone. Having treatments behind you is such a great thing! (I can\'t remember if your cancer was ER/PR positive or not, but if so they\'ll most likely put you on meds for that. I\'m on Tamoxifen for up to 5 years).
Some doctors do periodic scans, others do blood work, xrays, etc. There are two blood tests they did every couple of months during treatment that test \"markers\" for cancer. If you\'ve kept records of your labs you\'ll see them in there. Those are the ones they keep doing off and on.
I\'ve read about the \"let down\" after treatment is done. And it is true! We\'ve been monitored and messed w/ forever it seems and here we\'re being \"Thrown to the wolves alone!\" or so we feel LOL My docs & nurses have all said anytime to call if need be. That\'s reassuring.
I maintain, in faith, that its going to be okay. That we have endured all of this for something and its time to move on into a new future.. our future as the new us that we are....
TRY to not WORRY every moment.. but LIVE every moment. My mindset has become that this is MY chance to live. It almost wasn\'t and it is again..... and that\'s exactly what I\"m going to do! God gave me this \"second chance\" to live here on this earth and its time to smell those roses, take in the glorious beauty of the world in which we live in. Time to slough off the bad things. We dont need all of that! Stress isn\'t good for us... so lets just choose to NOT do it!!!!!
So get out there and LIVE and enjoy life so that there\'s not time to sit and fret and worry. Wear yourself out enough so that when you do lay head to pillow you\'re too exhausted to lie there stewing about what could be.
Take care!
HUGS!!!!!!!
I too have done the chemo and radiation but still have tell Nov with Herceptin and five years with Arimedex. I think we just have to take each day as it comes. If you feel well, enjoy that and try not to worry about what might or might not happen. I will have test every 3 months for 2 years and then once every 6 months until I reach year five each place seems to have different rules. I\'ve returned to work so I don\'t miss all the appointments and treatments. I\'m just glad it\'s mostly over. I\'m waiting on the reconstruction surgeon to contact me so I can then start that process. I\'m doing my best to just live in the moment and let the future stay there. Take care of yourself Hugs cathy