@jeffk- Good morning. I mentor for the Lung Cancer and Health groups. I also dropped the bucket on this group and I'm sorry for that. I have Multipfocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. My first cancer was 22+ years ago, followed 10 years later with multifocal. I also had and continue to have great faith in my doctors and treatments that have been presented to me. And boy they do well for me!
It takes a lot of hard work, every day to do the right things. Sometimes I often fight myself. Then I have to ask myself what are you doing? I admit, not every day is peachy keen. There are days that I have to force myself out of bed and get on with things. There are days that make me smile before I'm even out of bed.
By working I mean that I have to be careful with where I go and who I am with, especially in the winter. I have to make sure that I keep up with all of my shots (flu and pneumonia and whatever else is recommended for a 73 yrs. old woman). I have to make sure that I sleep well, rest if I need to and eat right and exercise. I fail at drinking enough water and feel it too. All of these things can be exhausting but they are comprised of a fighting spirit! I think to myself, I can control a lot of things! I have experienced so many things that I can't control with having stage 4a lung cancer but there is a lot that I can control! I'm sure that you have felt the same things.
I am very very happy that you have 3 years of being cancer-free. What did you actually do to muster daily optimism?