Hi All:

I've been following your discussion on what the word "Cancer" means. My journey with cancer began in 2003. I had my last surgery in 2016 and I'm scheduled for a follow up in April. I have a rare form of cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, of the upper digestive tract. It is one of those rare disorders, often referred to as an orphan disease. Until I found Mayo Connect, I also thought it was a very lonely disease simply because no one had ever heard of it before.

Whether your cancer is rare or more typical, the word cancer is frightening. It does represent a chronic illness. Each cancer patient (and their medical team) have to be diligent in follow-ups and expecting the unexpected. Symptoms have to be recorded (a journal perhaps) and reported. It is rather like a game where you are on the look-out for clues.

Besides being a chronic illness cancer can be a major cause of anxiety. Therefore, as cancer survivors, we all need to be diligent about how we handle stress. For me, this means getting adequate rest, regular exercise, social contact, and good nutrition.

There is no doubt, that a cancer diagnosis puts us each on a new life-trajectory. We have a different lifestyle than our cancer-free friends. However, as we take care of ourselves we become lights to others on this journey, as we face it with courage (even faltering courage is OK), a hopeful attitude and a strong support system behind us.