@hnreinhart12 and @daleliebermand3, "Mostly" cancer free for the last 7 years doesn't mean completely cancer free. My cancer metastasized to my brain after 2 years. I had brain surgery and 4 rounds of radiation and started Tagrisso then - about four and a half years ago. Last year, I had a localized recurrence in the area of resection. One more round of radiation and I'm cancer free again!

Unfortunately, that was one more round than my brain could tolerate. I started having trouble with my right foot about 6 months later. (The brain cyst was above the left parietal lobe which controls muscles on the right side and coordination between the two sides.) My next brain MRI showed brain necrosis: tissue death. I had 6 infusions of Avastin over 12 weeks and the brain MRI now looks great! But I have drop foot and chronic pain on the right side of my back.

I also have 2 other unrelated conditions going on. My GI doctor and I suspect gastroparesis, where the stomach doesn't move food along. Side effects include bloating, nausea, constipation, and unplanned weight loss. My body also has a ridiculous need for sleep - up to 11 or 12 hours a day without an alarm. It's REALLY hard to arrange a sleep study in my part of the world (Huntsville, AL area.) Through all of this, I'm still working full-time. I'm also working with a personal trainer to strengthen my body and work to recover my normal work.

My usual positive, optimistic attitude is being strongly tested. And that's where the psychotherapist comes in. Fortunately, one of my fellow high school graduates is a psychiatrist who will give me personal advice, but he won't take me as a patient. I'm still trying to arrange meetings with a local therapist. I've had great success with therapists a couple of times in my past, so I expect a good result this time as well.

My advice when there is something wrong with the body or the mind, find a healer and work with them, whether they are an oncologist or a therapist. I with you both, and everyone else, all the best and a life of much eeeeease.