[sarah]

How do we avoid stress!!!! I had a close friend who unfortunately died of lung cancer and she was convinced that many cancer patients suffered a severe depression the year before diagnosis. What surprised me, who worked in a very stressful profession (bosses were often selfish, demanding spoilt brats.) was that I had "retired" when I had my second cancer diagnosis and the year before it - I was very depressed - usual stupid self reflection about the meaning of life and feeling trapped, etc. So.... interestingly, I think there is a difference between acceptable, supportable stress and stress that paralyses you. By nature I'm a happy, accept what happens kind of person but......just before the second time, I was not that person. While I still believe it's our genes, environment that have a lot to do with our illness, I do think the last straw can be something like stress/depression or ???
I know there are people who believe in a positive attitude and some who have had that and still died too young, I believe strongly that at least if you have a positive attitude whatever time you have left is more fun. I had a close Danish friend whose husband, the love of her life, died in an accident while she was figthing inflammatory bc (often a death sentence) and after he died she said "I've cried enough now I must do all that can in the time that I have left" and she went skiing the winter before she died in that spring. She believed she could beat it and she was a doctor. I thought she had exhausted herself but the one thing I know is she lived every day of her life to the fullest and I miss her.
Shake off stress, find something to love and enjoy every day.
hugs and love
health and happiness - and I mean that!!!
sarah