Not Exactly Remission but a Lull. How to approach this?
Ten months ago I discovered a lump in my left breast. Then came months of diagnostics--it was an unusual NET--rare and aggressive in any case. Then months of delay as kidney disease was diagnosed and nephrologist had to weigh in on anesthesia etc. Then lumpectomy, 3 weeks of radiation, and AI. Tolerated all this. No chemo or targeted immunotherapy due to my preference.
Now active treatment is over. My oncologist will monitor me and do blood work every 90 days. I've been told I can live for a few years, but most likely the cancer will spread. How have other people dealt with this uncertainty? I'm happy be alive and with my family, and feel ok. I'm retired, almost 70, and I was set to go to grad school just for my own edification when I got the diagnosis. I can think of lots of things I like to do--but I feel remote from other people who seem unaware that we are all mortal. I'll take a minimalist approach to future treatment. Should I have short-term goals? Aspirations? Just hunker down in daily life? This experience has changed me--and that is fine--but I can't just go back to living the way I was. Advice welcome! Love the chat board--much gratitude.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.
In adding to all your wonderful thoughts, today I was flipping through the notes in my phone and came across a nice quote I had jotted down.
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant." Robert Lewis Stevenson.
Just as we benefit from the seeds planted by others who came before us so can younger generations benefit from the seeds we plant each day. Some of those seeds we plant may be ready for harvest relatively soon and some may take some time, but know that we or someone will benefit from each one so it's worth the effort. It's never too soon to start thinking about our legacy. 🙂 Zebra
Have you heard of an ethical will? It comes from the Jewish tradition. Here you bequeath your thoughts & feelings about how to live a good life instead of leaving physical possessions. It is fun to write, and clarifying.
You might see if your hospital/cancer center has counseling. I went for about 6 sessions after my diagnosis. They were free!, and my counselor was a cancer survivor herself and specialized in this type of counseling. (I'm not sure a regular counselor would've been experienced with the emotions I was experiencing.) It was super helpful, and I view free counseling as being comparable to a free shoulder massage...
Free counseling is great! However, I already had a therapist before diagnosis so am still seeing him. But thanks for the reminder.