@shellyk89: I appreciate that you have the knowledge of your illness that you can interpret the diagnostics, treatment and responses you've experienced to be an active participant in your care - and by extension use this to educate others who may be going through the same or similar journey. Regrettably, it's a journey none of us on this path had truly ever anticipated being on but being armed with facts and a certain degree of fortitude does help to navigate through the winding and seemingly ever changing path.

I've found adaptabilty is key, as is asking those key questions -- writing them down as they come to me so I can remember to ask the myriad of professionals involved in my care. Knowing where to seek reliable health information and how to gracefully respond to well-meaning friends with often unhelpful advice; knowing and honoring my boundaries. I, too, had been going about this from the time of my diagnosis in Sept of 2024 without the assistance of a therapist as I felt one I'd had in the past had equipped me with the tools I needed to support me, however as my life upended somewhat with my significant adverse reaction to pembro after 10 months requiring multiple hospitalizations, impacting my independence and activities of daily living, I did find the need for a few more sessions that were incredibly helpful. I have to add here that I'd worked for many years as a RN and had become an end of life doula (EOLD) through which I've learned of various support networks, such as letsreimagine.org which offers several good online events.

Just a thought: since you have such a knack for writing, perhaps you'd consider submitting to publications that pay for articles on health. There are several of which that do so. Freelance writing can be a more stable and faster way of generating income, with you determing how to distribute the proceeds. Let me know if that appeals to you.