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Joan M · 09-07-2008, 06:18 AM

Hi Carol,

It's easier said than done but try to take one day at a time and begin to accept.

Try to focus on having discovered both cancers earlier enough for effective treatment, which is positive.

I try to live in the present, but it's very hard. I'm a cronic worrier, which means I live in the future a lot.

I have a lot of "what if's." Like what if I lose my job because of my cancer treatments and therefore lose my medical insurance, or what if the scan I'm going to have in a few weeks following a procedure shows residual cancer activity, and if it doesn't, how long will that last.

I try to tell myself that today I feel healthy and until the next scan I'm going to assume that all is okay.

Then there's acceptance. I try to accept that I have cancer and deal with it. There's a lot to accept in life. My beautiful sister succumbed to MS at the young age of 51 after having it since she was 17, but God provided for her with 2 wonderful sons who took care of her until she finally had to go to a nursing home at age 49. She was 5 years older than me. She never complained. She's an example to me.

I know it's hard but trying to live in the moment is a good place to start and then everything will fall into place after that and you will find your way. You just have to be open so that you can be alert to all the possibilities that will help you develop a new life.

Best,

Joan

09-07-2008, 06:18 AM	#8
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Hi Carol, It's easier said than done but try to take one day at a time and begin to accept. Try to focus on having discovered both cancers earlier enough for effective treatment, which is positive. I try to live in the present, but it's very hard. I'm a cronic worrier, which means I live in the future a lot. I have a lot of "what if's." Like what if I lose my job because of my cancer treatments and therefore lose my medical insurance, or what if the scan I'm going to have in a few weeks following a procedure shows residual cancer activity, and if it doesn't, how long will that last. I try to tell myself that today I feel healthy and until the next scan I'm going to assume that all is okay. Then there's acceptance. I try to accept that I have cancer and deal with it. There's a lot to accept in life. My beautiful sister succumbed to MS at the young age of 51 after having it since she was 17, but God provided for her with 2 wonderful sons who took care of her until she finally had to go to a nursing home at age 49. She was 5 years older than me. She never complained. She's an example to me. I know it's hard but trying to live in the moment is a good place to start and then everything will fall into place after that and you will find your way. You just have to be open so that you can be alert to all the possibilities that will help you develop a new life. Best, Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!