Hello @lbern I am sorry to read of your prognosis. I appreciate how you defined cancer for yourself. Definitely many different aspects to this terrible disease.

I remember how drastically our lives changed the day my wife was told her diagnosis of brain cancer. It not only rocked, but completely changed, her world along with the world of each member of our family.

Cancer can mean so many different things, especially since each person, each tumor, each situation is unique. Cancer is definitely not a 'one size fits all' disease for sure!

While she fought every day, cancer, to her, also meant many losses, isolation, anxieties, and significant debt.

I hope all goes as well as can be hoped for you.
Stength, courage, and peace!

@lbern- I am awed by your words and how you are living your life now despite your prognosis. Everyone who has had a cancer diagnosis has feared being told what you had to hear. Reading it certainly has jolted me into thinking that I haven't treasured everyday enough. I like this better than being thankful. I am a 23 year 4 time lung cancer survivor.
I wish that this wasn't happening to you. I can't imagine the fear that you have right now. What can I say to help? What do you want to hear from us to help you? There are many wonderful organizations that can help you at this stage. Hospice is one such organization that I have had experience with. One was for my mother and one was for my twin sister. They are wonderful.
Are you in pain? Are your medicines enough to help you breathe and function at all? Do you have help?

@ibern In 1988 I was given a very serious diagnosis. In the intervening years I continued to work full time until Oct 2015. I also decided that hearing a diagnosis that I had received did not mean a life sentence for me. I also was diagnosed with some other ailments. The most serious was in March 2015, with an extremely rare kidney disorder. Less than 50 ever diagnosed in the world and the only living patient in the US. They still don't know how much time I have left and I figure we each have an expiration date! Right after the diagnosis I took the reins to do my own funeral plans and arrangements and all of the care paperwork needed. As someone else also said I also wrote my own obituary. I live each day with gratitude, and aim for some grace.
Ginger