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StephN · 02-02-2009, 02:06 PM

Hi Jackie H -
We have been down a long road together over the years! Fighting those mets side by side, blah, blah ...
Got to NED and need to get somewhat out of the warrior mode.

Was chatting with my hubby about how this disease changes us and especially fighting mets. I did become a bit of a hard ass (pardon my bold talk) but partly because I did not have the energy to be my normal, cheery self. So I was more curt and grumpy at times.

This mode is not very conducive to socializing and then the effort saps energy for a few days. Getting some stamina and energy back I have found has been key to feeling happier and more like doing things out of fun rather than mere duty.

Having our kind of cancer also puts us on the defensive, and this can carry through to area of our life where we would not normally show that.

Don't know if I am making any sense to you, but just to say that making some conscious decisions and keeping those in the forefront has helped me to recover some of my natural behavior.

Maybe Fran Drescher's method of putting her idea of a companion out into the "universe" might be a good way to open yourself up.

02-02-2009, 02:06 PM	#8
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	have a go ... Hi Jackie H - We have been down a long road together over the years! Fighting those mets side by side, blah, blah ... Got to NED and need to get somewhat out of the warrior mode. Was chatting with my hubby about how this disease changes us and especially fighting mets. I did become a bit of a hard ass (pardon my bold talk) but partly because I did not have the energy to be my normal, cheery self. So I was more curt and grumpy at times. This mode is not very conducive to socializing and then the effort saps energy for a few days. Getting some stamina and energy back I have found has been key to feeling happier and more like doing things out of fun rather than mere duty. Having our kind of cancer also puts us on the defensive, and this can carry through to area of our life where we would not normally show that. Don't know if I am making any sense to you, but just to say that making some conscious decisions and keeping those in the forefront has helped me to recover some of my natural behavior. Maybe Fran Drescher's method of putting her idea of a companion out into the "universe" might be a good way to open yourself up. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.