Hi Jan. Nice to find you here. This is the first of yours that I am reading. I was diagnosed in Jan 2010. I remember how shocking it was, and how illustrious my imagination was for the next six years. I read that month on one of the main C websites that ... hours later I see you've subscribed and I never did send this. So I have lived with mine since January 8th, 2010. Almost 13 years. For me, it was a wake-up call. I have learned many things since it started. In a way, it saved me from things. That's a blog. In a way, it got me to quit complaining and find solutions. In a way, I've learned more about health than I ever thought possible. Now, the older I get the more I'm willing to appease my health to keep living. It's almost as if, I have to be scared, to be willing to make the changes necessary for a healthier life. There are lots of support sights I have and/or haven't used. Let me know if you'd ever like to chat or get some links. Lisa Guest
Thanks so much for contacting and sharing your journey with me. It’s been a bit less than 2 1/2 years since diagnosed and I LOVE and totally understand your comment “how illustrious my imagination was for the next six years.” I’m in my early 70s, although very young at heart, and my lifestyle has been fairly clean for quite a few years. (Clean? What the…. Worth a blog post, I think.) Your previously quoted comment really speaks to me, however. For the first time in my life, I’ve developed white coat syndrome with blood pressure going sky high any time I get near a medical provider’s office. OMG, what’s going to go wrong next?! I’m a former hospice/hospital social worker, but as you know, it’s an entirely different view from the place of being diagnosed. Also helpful hearing your perspective from farther down the road than I am. I may well contact you to hear more about your time evolution of living with the knowledge of the C word. With much gratitude for your contacting me…Jan Hutton
PS I had to go get a blood draw today. It's always nerve-wracking. Sort of like Princess Diana walking in the landmines. We just keep breathing. The breath is the greatest gift. We can adjust the white coat, knowing it will come up, to start breathing that morning. Going becomes a prayer, into those buildings. Also, there is something to be said for this C helping us focus on what we really want and how to allow that to be our focus! Perhaps this doesn't make sense. It does help me get ever more focused and watch the minutes when I'm off base and ask why instead of just allowing myself to stay off base.
I have known about this terror, this energy going out in worry, as I mentioned before. I didn't describe it like you did so loverly, with the white coat!
Yes. I understand. I was reading a letter I didn't send from 2012. In it, I said, "For your planning when I am gone," because I just didn't know. The official cancer site in 2010 said someone my age contracting my disease had a 50% chance of living another five years. Not to jinx myself but getting beyond that five years was helpful. I've learned so much about the allopathic vs naturopathic treatments available. I remember how many nights I laid awake in bed wondering how awful it would be. None of that came to pass. Knock on wood. My grandma used to say, "Why worry? If worrying would help me, I would worry." I have worried so much. My mom worried about everything. I'm trying to switch to my grandma's adage instead. My mom contracted same cancer I have (she got it first in her 70th year in 2004) and I got it at 50. It had nothing to do with what caused her death in 2020. Not covid either. So I am here, and available if you wish.
Thanks, Jan. Puts things in a new perspective. No one should be alone on this journey. 🙏🏻
Hi Jan. Nice to find you here. This is the first of yours that I am reading. I was diagnosed in Jan 2010. I remember how shocking it was, and how illustrious my imagination was for the next six years. I read that month on one of the main C websites that ... hours later I see you've subscribed and I never did send this. So I have lived with mine since January 8th, 2010. Almost 13 years. For me, it was a wake-up call. I have learned many things since it started. In a way, it saved me from things. That's a blog. In a way, it got me to quit complaining and find solutions. In a way, I've learned more about health than I ever thought possible. Now, the older I get the more I'm willing to appease my health to keep living. It's almost as if, I have to be scared, to be willing to make the changes necessary for a healthier life. There are lots of support sights I have and/or haven't used. Let me know if you'd ever like to chat or get some links. Lisa Guest
Lisa,
Thanks so much for contacting and sharing your journey with me. It’s been a bit less than 2 1/2 years since diagnosed and I LOVE and totally understand your comment “how illustrious my imagination was for the next six years.” I’m in my early 70s, although very young at heart, and my lifestyle has been fairly clean for quite a few years. (Clean? What the…. Worth a blog post, I think.) Your previously quoted comment really speaks to me, however. For the first time in my life, I’ve developed white coat syndrome with blood pressure going sky high any time I get near a medical provider’s office. OMG, what’s going to go wrong next?! I’m a former hospice/hospital social worker, but as you know, it’s an entirely different view from the place of being diagnosed. Also helpful hearing your perspective from farther down the road than I am. I may well contact you to hear more about your time evolution of living with the knowledge of the C word. With much gratitude for your contacting me…Jan Hutton
PS I had to go get a blood draw today. It's always nerve-wracking. Sort of like Princess Diana walking in the landmines. We just keep breathing. The breath is the greatest gift. We can adjust the white coat, knowing it will come up, to start breathing that morning. Going becomes a prayer, into those buildings. Also, there is something to be said for this C helping us focus on what we really want and how to allow that to be our focus! Perhaps this doesn't make sense. It does help me get ever more focused and watch the minutes when I'm off base and ask why instead of just allowing myself to stay off base.
I understand, Lisa. What a gift that you’ve allowed the C-word to become your teacher. Those teachers come in all forms, don’t they?
I have known about this terror, this energy going out in worry, as I mentioned before. I didn't describe it like you did so loverly, with the white coat!
Yes. I understand. I was reading a letter I didn't send from 2012. In it, I said, "For your planning when I am gone," because I just didn't know. The official cancer site in 2010 said someone my age contracting my disease had a 50% chance of living another five years. Not to jinx myself but getting beyond that five years was helpful. I've learned so much about the allopathic vs naturopathic treatments available. I remember how many nights I laid awake in bed wondering how awful it would be. None of that came to pass. Knock on wood. My grandma used to say, "Why worry? If worrying would help me, I would worry." I have worried so much. My mom worried about everything. I'm trying to switch to my grandma's adage instead. My mom contracted same cancer I have (she got it first in her 70th year in 2004) and I got it at 50. It had nothing to do with what caused her death in 2020. Not covid either. So I am here, and available if you wish.
🙏🏽🙏🏾🙏🏼
Well-paid, Jan! More difficult in retrospect than at the time. We need your positivity now.