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Facing Cancer Recurrence, PTSD & Acknowledging Mental Health

Posted by Merry, Volunteer Mentor @merpreb, Dec 6, 2018

It's extremely difficult to face the fact of recurring cancers. After treatments we try and get away from it all and live our life. Then along comes another CT scan or PET scan and POW, you have to face another cancer. My reaction was developing PTSD.

You can read what I wrote in my blog: https://my20yearscancer.com/blog/
How do we cope? How do we react? What do we do?
How have you all reacted to another cancer? Or the possibility of another one? Has your "already compromised" mental health been able to deal with it? How? Or not?

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

linda10 | @linda10 | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @sepdvm "I had a massive head surgery in 2012 for SCC, and related lung mets in 2014..." + (show)
@sepdvm

I had a massive head surgery in 2012 for SCC, and related lung mets in 2014 and 2016. Both were removed by VATS wedge resection. Next scans are next week at Mayo so trying to keep positive and not worry. I have a friend Bob who has passed away from his lymphoma, but he was the most positive person you could ever meet. His final "goal" was to "Finish Life", which he did very successfully. I loved his analogy of kicking a tin can down a long road......... every kick gets you a little farther, and the farther you go, the more likely you will encounter something new and different. New treatments are just around the corner. Just one more kick could land you closer to the treatment that will really have an impact on your cancer. Keep kicking and think positive. Don't give your cancer the benefit of all that stress-induced cortisol release!

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Yes! I have been very fortunate. I have never had to have chemo or radiation as all cancers were stage 1As. I have had a right upper lobectomy in 2011. Right lower wedge in 2014 and 2 left lower wedges-one last June 2017 and one this June 2018. Mayo is the only place I will go. They saved my life. That's why I always try and stay grateful. Actually the wedge in 2017 was AIS. So many are not as fortunate as I have been. Going on 8 years and still kicking

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Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 10, 2018

Linda. What is AIS? I feel fortunate too. I've 21 years more than I thought. Staying positive can be difficult at times, especially when the news isn't what you want to hear. I applaud you for that. Hopefully you won't have any more growth when you go back in 6 months.

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linda10 | @linda10 | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @merpreb "Linda. What is AIS? I feel fortunate too. I've 21 years more than I thought. Staying..." + (show)
@merpreb

Linda. What is AIS? I feel fortunate too. I've 21 years more than I thought. Staying positive can be difficult at times, especially when the news isn't what you want to hear. I applaud you for that. Hopefully you won't have any more growth when you go back in 6 months.

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Adenocarcinoma in situ. It's actually like a precancer. My PA said who knows-it could be scar tissue. It hasn't changed since June. It is denser than it was in 2017. I'm going to shelf it for now. It feels good to find someone with the same condition as me. Sometimes I feel I can't really help anyone because I've had the surgeries but nothing more.

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Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 10, 2018

I also don't feel so all alone!

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padovani | @padovani | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @linda10 "I also have multifocal lung cancer. I am in Rochester now preparing for my CT scan..." + (show)
@linda10

I also have multifocal lung cancer. I am in Rochester now preparing for my CT scan at 8:45. I have had 4 surgeries since 2011. All have been classified as stage 1 cancers as all were morphologically different. It's difficult never knowing what the scans will show. My last surgery was in June and this is the first time there is nothing left to follow. I'm hoping this scan shows no new areas of concern.

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I hope so too

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sakota9 (Joan) | @sakota | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @merpreb "Oh dear Linda. The good news is that it's not 3 months. I know, it's never..." + (show)
@merpreb

Oh dear Linda. The good news is that it's not 3 months. I know, it's never done. We have a chronic cancer.
Have your lessons been in both lungs? How much have you had removed?

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@merry. Don’t think with. Multifocal we can ever be cancer free. Had my ct scan yesterday so will see the dr tomorrow. It’s time for a change as have been stable for the last two ct scans. I really don’t know how I feel about all this. I think ok I got this and now I just need to deal with it st this moment in time and move on. Even when I heard the dreaded word cancer. I didn’t feel one way or another. I wasn’t sad I wasn’t scared I just wanted it gone. Anyone else felt this way. I don’t cry about it I just deal with it.

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linda10 | @linda10 | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @sakota "@merry. Don’t think with. Multifocal we can ever be cancer free. Had my ct scan yesterday..." + (show)
@sakota

@merry. Don’t think with. Multifocal we can ever be cancer free. Had my ct scan yesterday so will see the dr tomorrow. It’s time for a change as have been stable for the last two ct scans. I really don’t know how I feel about all this. I think ok I got this and now I just need to deal with it st this moment in time and move on. Even when I heard the dreaded word cancer. I didn’t feel one way or another. I wasn’t sad I wasn’t scared I just wanted it gone. Anyone else felt this way. I don’t cry about it I just deal with it.

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Sakota, I also have multifocal. After the scans I just try and do like you. I just deal with comes my way. But I do have to say every time they find a change I do feel disappointed.

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Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 10, 2018

@linda10 and @sakota. I was going to introduce the two of you tomorrow morning. I'm glad that you have met. Maybe we can grow our group by bringing in others who also have multifocal adenocarcinoma. If you know of anyone invite them to join us!

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linda10 | @linda10 | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @merpreb "@linda10 and @sakota. I was going to introduce the two of you tomorrow morning. I'm glad..." + (show)
@merpreb

@linda10 and @sakota. I was going to introduce the two of you tomorrow morning. I'm glad that you have met. Maybe we can grow our group by bringing in others who also have multifocal adenocarcinoma. If you know of anyone invite them to join us!

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Unfortunately I don't know anyone else with multifocal adenocarcinoma. I feel very fortunate that there are at least 3 of us here.

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Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 11, 2018

@linda 10- lol. Supposedly multifocal adenocarcinoma is not that uncommon. Wonder where everyone is...

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