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Talking Frankly about Living with Advanced Cancer
Cancer | Last Active: Jun 18, 2023 | Replies (508)Comment receiving replies
@leann @kathleenkin Thank you for posting the photos of your lovely dogs. I check into this discussion but have not posted in awhile and I was pleasantly surprised by the photos. Our companion animals are such a blessing. As soon as I sit down, one of the cats is on my lap and if we let the cats into the bedroom at night they would both sleep on or next to us (my partner says no animals in the bedroom).
I worry about recurrence or second cancers. I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer (endometrial adenocarcinoma FIGO Grade 1) in July, 2019) and went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester after I got the diagnosis from my local gynecologist. At Mayo, I had a radical hysterectomy with salpingo-oopherectomy and pathology after surgery showed that the adenocarcinoma was 1a with minimal invasion in the myometrium and no spread. So, I'm a cancer survivor. I'm due for my first 6 month follow-up in February, 2020 and I'll return to Mayo in Rochester for that appointment and all of my follow-up care.
I'm trying to think why I'm writing this now. Maybe it's the worry in the back of my mind that never completely leaves although is often suppressed in my day-to-day life. What else can I or any of us do but live with our lives that we share with our humans and companion animals? And some of us, like Marshall, get to share our gifts as therapy animals! And notice our blessings everyday.
Replies to "@leann @kathleenkin Thank you for posting the photos of your lovely dogs. I check into this..."
@kathleenkin You're welcome @naturegirl5 ! Aw, our furry friends are the best! Like @kathleenkin and yourself said, those worries are normal, likely always be there in the back of our minds regardless of where and what our stories are. But we cope, hope, and keep living this life with our loved ones and furry friends! Yes, we are survivors! I'll make a note, send a few prayers, on my calendar for Feb. and your first month follow up!
Dear naturegirl5, I wrote to you when you first joined the group. I'm glad to see that you are doing well. Like you, I don't post very often. However, I noticed your comment about your worries regarding a recurrence or secondary cancer. I would imagine all of us share those concerns, perhaps for a lifetime. Although I would say, as time goes on it does seem less burdensome emotionally on a daily basis. Most of us experience anxiety prior to an appointment. I had one in October and my blood pressure was sky high when normally it is quite low (they have me monitor it at home). I'm always completely elated when it is all over and my husband and I celebrate. Then I turn my attention to my life, my loved ones, and dear friends (I don't have a pet as I travel too much, but I had dogs for years). I'm certain your appointment will go well in February, but I truly understand your feelings. Be well.
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I know for a fact that my cancer will spread. It has already invaded my remaining lung. I don’t worry about it. I can’t change it. I know it’s going to happen. I just don’t know when it’s going to happen but that’s not going to prevent me from enjoying each and every day. Life is a precious gift. I’m not going to spend one minute of one day worrying about when it’s going to happen. Right now it’s a beautiful day outside. It’s foggy which makes all the Christmas lights beautiful. It will probably snow later on and I’m excited about that. Later on I’m gonna go make some cookies for my neighbors and take a walk with my dog. I have a very blessed life. God will take me home when the time is right. He has a timeline for everyone we can’t change that. The best thing we can do is to live each moment of our life and try to bless other people as well. God bless you and enjoy today.