Just venting

[Richard1]

Update. I got my scan results back, talked to my oncologist and surgeon and it’s all clear. They got it all and my chemo treatment worked. In January 26 I have a colonoscopy, regular check ups, just not as frequent. Touch wood but it looks like I’ve beat this monster.

💪💪💪

[Isadora2021]

Oh my goodness, Richard! That’s such fantastic news 💃🏻🏋🏻‍♀️🤼‍♀️🤺🙌❤️‍🩹  Congratulations. How wonderful that you can now focus on recovery and reclaiming your life outside work and treatment.  Please do keep us updated! 

[Felicity_CCNSW]

Hi @Richard1 

This is such fantatic news Richard. Well done in getting through your treatment and the stress of upcoming scans. What a wonderful result to get!

I hope you continue to feel better and better 🙂

Take Care

Felicity

[Richard1]

It’s been a long painful, stressful, scary journey. So many times I wanted to give up, but somehow kept pushing through. Everything else now seems obsolete, if I can beat cancer I can beat anything.

Much love and respect to you Isadora for reading my story, venting my thoughts has helped. 👍❤️👍❤️👍❤️

[Richard1]

Thanks Felicity for your support and also this forum. Being open with my thoughts has helped clear my mind. I will continue to work and play. I know some days will be better than others but I will never give up.

[Isadora2021]

I’m so glad I could be here for you, Richard. No one else can understand quite the same way that a fellow traveller does. I salute you for opening up to us  and being vulnerable. 

Cancer is a dreadful illness, and you have been a true warrior.  (I know some cancer patients don’t like using that word, but personally I embrace it). Cancer is an uninvited and unwelcome squatter in our bodies but also teaches us so much about ourselves. Like just how strong we can be.

Surveillance testing is now your next stage, and it will send up its own  different  mental challenges. We’re here for you whenever you need us!

My oncologist has from the start of my clear testing encouraged me to eat healthily and exercise well - 2 things you enjoyed before cancer and will enjoy building back up. Enjoy embracing those again to help your body and mind recover ❤️‍🩹

[Richard1]

Good morning. Everything is kinda back to normal. Got a colonoscopy on the 16 Jan for a final check up and whatever happens after that. Sometimes I forget I went through hell and back, a good sign I moving forward. Doctors said it would take a year to recover fully and they were right, it’s almost been 12 months since I found out I was going to die. Crazy. I hope your doing well on this beautiful sunny day, thank you for everything again my fellow warrior. 👍❤️💪

[Isadora2021]

Such wonderful news, Richard, to hear that you’re bouncing back so well!  ❤️‍🩹💪🏋🏻‍♀️🤼‍♀️  Thanks for sharing. It’s inspirational for so many people who are going through treatment now.

Also so good to see you appreciating the valuable lessons cancer teaches us.  A tough way to learn to appreciate each day and to be grateful!

Keep  up pushing forward as you are. Great work!  But also be gentle with yourself if you have tough days. We have both been through so much, both mentally and physically.  It’s now that smartwatch data is so valuable to know when to tone it down or it’s safe to ramp it up!! 

Enjoy Christmas and another new year 🙌🏆❤️‍🩹 Looking  forward to an update including your colonoscopy in January. 

[Richard1]

Bad days. Friday I came home from work early feeling burnt out. Spent the next 2 and 1/2 days in bed worrying. I thought I was over this hurdle. Those lingering worries are still banging in my head. Do I have the will power to keep going. Splitting headache, ringing in left ear, so tired, pain everywhere. No finish line. It’s so draining, makes everything you do extremely hard, and kinda pointless. Found out someone I knew just passed away from cancer, he was 60 years old. That triggered my down fall. Will this ever end…

[Isadora2021]

Oh no, Richard. I’m sorry you’re feeling so low, frustrated and let down.  Unfortunately what you’re now going through is totally normal when we’ve been through what we have.  To leave ill health and treatment behind and carry on life as if we never had cancer would be wonderful. But it’s not like that and again we are all unique in how this next stage plays out..

My cancer isn’t curable but I’ll be 4 years NED in May 2026. In some ways this stage of my journey is the hardest - because of the lingering side effects (I too have tinnitus from treatment but I’m now used to it) and the mind. I recall you don’t like therapy but it may be helpful to get a referral to a specialised cancer psychologist. I have had a referral on hand since I was in your position. So far I haven’t had to use it but it’s there.  Which is comforting. For me I’ve returned to keeping my focus on the “now” as we did during treatment. Not looking ahead nor behind. Taking a day at a time. It does get easier to climb the hills and make the most of good days then navigate out of the pits.

Be kind to yourself. Your body is still recovering.  It can take a year before your body heals. The mind is the harder thing to handle

Please keep venting here as much as you need. We’re here for you through the ups and downs