1. < Cancer

Not OK — and that's OK

Posted by northoftheborder @northoftheborder, Oct 18 4:25pm

I'm not OK today. Yesterday I attended my neighbour's memorial service (diagnosed 1½ years after me, also stage 4, but a different cancer). Even though I'm in full remission according to my care team, I feel a sense of doom, and I'm imagining every little ache or pain as a new metastasis (and I get lots of random aches and pains thanks to the nerve damage).

But I'm not the same person I was when I was first diagnosed 3 years ago. I've been through this before, and now I trust that I *will* feel better soon. I don't need to force it, and I don't need to make things worse by worrying about being worried. Cancer has taught me emotional strength (tough teacher!), and I know that it's OK not to be OK for a few days.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer Support Group.

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Oct 21 5:29am
In reply to @gprior "Oh that is 100% spot on! I am to have my second surgery for neuroendocrine cancer..." + (show)
@gprior

Oh that is 100% spot on!
I am to have my second surgery for neuroendocrine cancer next week, another lobe will be removed from my right lung. It can be a lonely time for someone with rare cancer, people don't know of it so can't understand and of course the stigma of lung cancer is another concern for us.
But we on this connection know and understand each other's emotions and it certainly helps. Enjoy each day and each other. Good wishes to all of you. From glor

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Best wishes and good luck with the operation. ♥️💪

The challenge with a rare cancer is that no one knows about it; the challenge with a common one like prostate or breast cancer is that everyone *thinks* they know about it (but most of what they know is wrong).

I'm so sorry that you also have to deal with the stigma and victim blaming around lung cancer.

REPLY
vinnie694 | @vinnie694 | Oct 21 10:09am
In reply to @gprior "Oh that is 100% spot on! I am to have my second surgery for neuroendocrine cancer..." + (show)
@gprior

Oh that is 100% spot on!
I am to have my second surgery for neuroendocrine cancer next week, another lobe will be removed from my right lung. It can be a lonely time for someone with rare cancer, people don't know of it so can't understand and of course the stigma of lung cancer is another concern for us.
But we on this connection know and understand each other's emotions and it certainly helps. Enjoy each day and each other. Good wishes to all of you. From glor

Jump to this post

Hope and prayers for a successful surgery..

REPLY
ark111 | @ark111 | Oct 21 3:34pm

Took many years of struggling, beginning to accept not OK as OK. Everything wants to be accepted as it is, once accepted it can be ok…

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