Talking Frankly about Living with Advanced Cancer

I call them God moments. It used to blow my mind but God does it so often now it’s part of my day. I love your story and your fight!!!

@hannahkeels What an incredible story of resiliency and love! That's wonderful how you've turned your adversity into such an important contribution to help others. You guys prove the point that many have made - each day is a gift!

I am a stage 4 end of the life cancer survivor. I coach cancer patients and their families now, and that is how I met my fiance ( stage 4 breast cancer thriver). We talk about nobody has a guarantee of how long they will be on this planet. We get the most out of each day no matter what. Can you love, laugh, smile, cry and help others even while going through treatment? We know it's possible. We do it every day and thank God for every breath. Hugs and prayers to all of my people brought into this cancer world with us. You are not alone!!!

@hannahkeels Welcome to Mayo Connect, we're glad you are here. Chuck, I can just see that you would be such an inspiration to so many! And your experience is the best education to pass on. My husband and I met on our kidney journey, at a support group. We had barely gone out once when he was transplanted, and I was a caregiver for him! Isn't it funny how adversities place people in our lives?
Ginger

@leann @kathleenkin Thank you for posting the photos of your lovely dogs. I check into this discussion but have not posted in awhile and I was pleasantly surprised by the photos. Our companion animals are such a blessing. As soon as I sit down, one of the cats is on my lap and if we let the cats into the bedroom at night they would both sleep on or next to us (my partner says no animals in the bedroom).

I worry about recurrence or second cancers. I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer (endometrial adenocarcinoma FIGO Grade 1) in July, 2019) and went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester after I got the diagnosis from my local gynecologist. At Mayo, I had a radical hysterectomy with salpingo-oopherectomy and pathology after surgery showed that the adenocarcinoma was 1a with minimal invasion in the myometrium and no spread. So, I'm a cancer survivor. I'm due for my first 6 month follow-up in February, 2020 and I'll return to Mayo in Rochester for that appointment and all of my follow-up care.

I'm trying to think why I'm writing this now. Maybe it's the worry in the back of my mind that never completely leaves although is often suppressed in my day-to-day life. What else can I or any of us do but live with our lives that we share with our humans and companion animals? And some of us, like Marshall, get to share our gifts as therapy animals! And notice our blessings everyday.

We do it all. Meet with patients, work with them on the phone or face time, public speak at cancer clinics, churches and businesses. My qualification came form my life experience. Stage 4 survivor.

We do it all. Meet with patients, work with them on the phone or face time, public speak at cancer clinics, churches and businesses. My qualification came form my life experience. Stage 4 survivor.

I like your thinking @kathleenkin - We have thought this way, but admit to dropping the ball lately. Time to pick up the celebrations. I really love your last line, I'm jotting that one down. "Do not give one minute to cancer, it isn't worthy of your time. Blessings to you as well and thank you for taking your time to help.