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Talking Frankly about Living with Advanced Cancer

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Sep 1, 2017

Are you living with advanced cancer (sometimes referred to as stage 4 or metastatic cancer)?
This discussion is a safe space where you can connect with others to talk about the realities of living with limited time. It's not easy to find people who understand what it is like. For many reasons, you may not feel comfortable talking about your thoughts and emotions with friends or family. Perhaps you are alone. Even if you are surrounded by people who support you, you may experience intense loneliness.

Connect is a place where honest conversation can safely take place. You can speak frankly and be heard without judgement. I invite you to share your reality facing death and living now.

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

Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 6, 2017
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Hi Nancy, @shortshot80

Thanks for checking in, I'm so pleased to hear about your hats and the cribbage board! Bazaars can be such fun - especially when you are able to find things that you really like. It feels good to have lots of color, doesn't it?

I hope you are able to take it easy for the next day of so. It sounds like you could use a rest.

Teresa

REPLY
shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Dec 8, 2017
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Hi Teresa, (shortshot80) I really like color, It raises my personal feelings a whole lot. Today I am going to make some whit fudge with cranberries in it. I have a "tea" to go to tomorrow and am supposed to bring a finger food. Also I received a call from my Pastor's daughter who will be 11 tomorrow, to come to her birthday party and her dad will pick me up. That really pleased me. I haven't been to a kid's BD party in years. I went through my cook books and picked out a "cookie" book which is old, printed in 1986 and another cook book which also is old 1960, has several riseipe's and I put a note in and requested that she read the book to her little brothers. Ssounds like I will have some fun both on Saturday & Sunday. Nancy

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 8, 2017
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Hi Nancy, @shortshot80

You will have great fun!! The birthday party especially sounds good. I like the "cookie" book idea, that is a winner!

Teresa

REPLY
shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Jan 14, 2018
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

shortshot80) hello everyone. Friday Jan. 12, I went to my oncologist. My cat scan has helped and I can breath better. But my blood count was low so had to have a blood transfusion. They started the transfusion around 1:30pm and it wasn't cone till 7:pm. Two units. Yesterday I just rested watch tv an rested some more. Today is not so good. Could not sleep bat 2am just simi slept. Tried to get up and was so dizzy I sat down. Then after a few minutes got up and got a cup of coffee, and then started to shake. In typing this I shake and hit too many letters. Wrong ones at that. Don't know what to do about that. Hopefully it will it will get better. Nancy

REPLY
shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Jan 14, 2018
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Teresa I wrote a little bit and the compter put it in the wrong place. It is dated Jan 12 and it put it just below this one Dec 6th. Perhapes you can move it into the January. Nancy

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 14, 2018
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Hi Nancy, @shortshot80

I am sorry to hear that you aren't feeling well, Nancy. I hope that you will begin to feel better soon.

Have you had this type of side-effect from transfusions before? Perhaps you need to call your doctor's office and let them know how you are feeling.

Keep us posted on how you are feeling. I'll be praying for you.

Teresa

REPLY
shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Jan 14, 2018
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Hi Teresa. a, feeling better than I was this morning. That was my first blood transfusion I have ever had. I felt pretty good yesterday, don't know what happened today, but I am feeling a little better this evening. Thanks for the prayers. By the way, my lungs are better according to the cat scan. I can even breathe better. Nancy

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 15, 2018
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Nancy, @shortshot80

That is such good news about your breathing being better and that your scan showed improvement with your lungs - that is good way to start the new year.

Will you be having a new chemo treatment any time soon?

Teresa

REPLY
shortshot80 | @shortshot80 | Jan 15, 2018
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Teresa) I had a blood (t2o unites) last Friday.. Saturday was a ok day Yesterday and today was not so good(dizzy, stumbling out of sorts) don't know what is wrong. Had a blood test this morning, ( went to the bathroom, upon leaving the door was hard to push got my cane caught with the door and really hit my right hand on the back of my hand and now have a inch by inch skin tear on the back of my hand. Now yes I will have chemo tomorrow so fare every three weeks...... Makes for a long day. My appt for tomorrow is I have to be 60 miles away for chemo at 9:30 am. However long this takes, also have a kidney doc appt at 2;30l.....makesfor a long day! Nancy (shortshot80)

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 16, 2018
In reply to @saltis "Hi friends, Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever..." + (show)
@saltis

Hi friends,
Everybody tells me that I look fablous & not at all sick. Nobody ever told me that I look fab when it was important & I wasn't sick. 22 years of cancer & now for the last 3 years stage 4 & it has spread to my chest, too. Hopefully I would start my new treatment on Tuesday and by then I hope to be able to breath as before, normally. My new chemo is based on pills Capecitabin, 8 ones everyday in two weeks time & then a rest week & then I would continue two other weeks.
Sometimes I feel that my oncolog is a bit intimated by me and blurbs out words or phrases that are not so diplomatic but he is a human being and my fablousness puts him in disadvantage, lol! Like while treating my lung problem I started to notice that my right breast which was operated and a fourth of it was taken away is losing it's form and now is stuck like a clump on my chest and is a very little thing. Anyway he has never seen anything like it and then he tells me that I have lived quite a long time with my cancers and must expect organ failures in future. I asked him is there anything I can do?
He told me No, just don't expect too much! You mean no biggest lottery Prize? Between us I still feel that I am lucky and I have my family & friends around me. When I can breath I feel lucky & everything would work out for the best somehow.
Take care folk and enjoy your day, night ...

Jump to this post

Nancy, @shortshot80

Yes, you will have a long day - I'll be praying that all goes well for you.

Teresa

REPLY
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