Bless your heart, no one has a hand book, just just take it one day at a time and thank God for the time you have. Do something you have always wanted to do. It doesn't matter what you look like or what people may think, you are stronger than they will ever know and everyday is a precious gift. Don't just squander it. My uncle just got diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma and I personally think it should be the push people need to really show their appreciation for their new found life. You're beautiful inside and out. Live a beautiful life

@danyeltardy12 Hello, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm relieved to know that you are 5 years out from a Stage 4 diagnosis of ovarian/peritoneal cancer. I think many of us can relate to your daily struggle of being a cancer survivor and your worries about recurrence. I was first diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2019 and so I would be 5 years out from that initial diagnosis but I had a recurrence in 2021. For me, that recurrence was almost more difficult to emotionally deal with than the initial diagnosis. I found that once I talked with the doctors and had a treatment plan (in my case it was radiation therapy) I began to feel better. But once I finished that treatment and went back to active surveillance checks of every 4-6 months the worries came back. I have my next set of appointments during the week of November 18 when I will have a CT scan with contrast and a physical examination. That's just two weeks away.

Are you now 44-years-old? If I'm doing the math correctly then you were 39 years old when first diagnosed? Is that correct? I know that life isn't always "fair" and so cancer at 39 years old seems, well, unfair to me. I was 67-years-old when I was diagnosed and by that time felt that although I was healthy (I thought) I'd lived a good life.

Do you have children? Have you been able to return to work given the memory problems you described? What kinds of activities or things do you do to take care of you?

Good morning:
Cancer treatment can be rough. As a caregiver of a survivor I can attest that the recovery process can be a challenge. It can take a long time. Some changes can be reversed more quickly than others but as another person who posted on this thread indicated, be grateful for what you have—your life and hope for the future. My advice to you is to be kind to yourself and be patient. Eat healthily, get lots of rest, exercise to speed recovery and get involved in some new activities or travel to shift your thoughts in a more positive direction.
All the best.

Thank you for your story. You inspired me. I, too, have peritoneal cancer stage 4, diagnosed 2 years ago. Initial prognosis not good. I thought, prayed a lot about life, death, God, family. Radiation and chemotherapy were an agonizing part of my existence as were complications requiring hospitalizations.
Now on break from treatment, I am slowly regaining strength. I don't look the same, can't do much that I could before. I am content to live a quiet life, enjoying small pleasures. I feel blessed to have this time to be with my husband who has Alzheimers. As another wrote here, this helps us to appreciate life. So many entered my life to help me. Gratitude has taken on a new meaning.
My heart and prayers go out to you.