December 2010
Hi Rebecca
I have an incurable cancer too. To me that means they haven't found a cure yet. I know there have been great advances since I was diagnosed three years ago and I keep in touch with that on the Internet. It's all positive.
I am not as young as you. OK, I am 55. My condition is called multiple myeloma. What's yours?
It was pretty scary for ten months, then I was in remission until recently. Now it's not so scary. I look at it as something to manage.
Writing helps.
H
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December 2010
I think you are right Julie about the observation aspect of surviving cancer.
The author of the book I read recently called "The Wounded Storyteller" (Arhtur Frank) would probably say that "others" seem to be wanting us to get back to where we were before (restitution). However, we seem to be looking for something as a story to tell about the new being (quest) who has no intention of making things the same as before. Hence we are aware of observing others more closely because their behaviour doesn't fit with the quest - just as our behaviour doesn't fit with restitution.
Just a thought.
H
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December 2010
Yeah, I know. It is 6.04am. But I am up early and have a cup of coffee in my hand and don't have to do anything at all today.
I just wanted to say how useful I found the list of hints for handling the holiday season. It's on the home page here.
I constantly grapple with the energy in-energy out equation. Some days I am way out and it takes many days to recover. Other days I get so much done because I have decided to do nothing. It's very strange and kind of hard to get used to. But there it is. There I am. Here we are.
I find it so hard to say no. I need more strategies for keeping things on my terms. The idea in the list of an exit strategy for dealing with events that might become exhausting - for one reason or another - is very good. That's something that has been on my mind for the past few months.
And these days it is always true that doing less is a much better option. It is amazing how much I get done by doing nothing. Mostly events and telephones give other people the opportunity to ask me "How I am" but they do not give me any oppoerunities at all. I have come to hate telephones. I love blogging, email, facebook and text because you can set your own timeframe for engaging with others but phones ringing in real time I find such an imposition. I really hate the phone ringing.
I make exceptions when it suits me. Last night I went to the Australian Opera with my son who is a post-graduate musicology reaearch student and a university tutor. He wanted two tickets for a birthday and Christmas present, which I delivered, then he said I want you to come with me. I am absolutely buggered this morning. Not enough sleep and I missed a meal, forgot to take my pills and may have an infection looming in my catherter. But I did go to the opera with my son.
It's a good list. Thanks for putting it together.
H
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December 2010
Patience, patience...sit in the sun if you can, getting ten minutes of vitamin d is more important than putting on sunscreen...or get some good DVDs.
Or read Keith Richards' book, it's a hoot.
H
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December 2010
I am likely to suffer end stage turkey failure and burn the damned thing again.
H
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December 2010
Hi swim 72
I decided I was a survivor soon after I was diagnosed. I read a little bit about how people responded and what they thought of their situation and pretty soon it became clear that I was the only one who could decide this issue.
So I decided to see myself as a survivor pretty early on. It was very effective in developing a sense of self in the middle of all the medical regimes and other people's reactions. So effective that when my oncologist told me I was in remission ten months later my first reaction was 'So what?' I was a survivor already, being in remission didn't change anything for me.
Are you classed as a survivor yet, swim 72? I think it is you who needs to answer that for yourself. Don't concede that level of control over you to the medical industry.
That is my response to your question at 6.30am today.
There are likely to be other responses, I am sure.
H
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December 2010
I am sure whatever you decide to do will be the right thing and I'd like to ask if you wouold consider posting your poem here so we can read it too?
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December 2010
Hi Vicki Anne
What you are describing reminded me of one of the entries in the Cancer Council Victoria Arts Awards that I saw earlier in the year. It was a series of photos of a boy taken over time, with all the changes brought about by a cancer apparent; hair loss, weight loss, change in the focus in the eyes.
I think what you are proposing to do is a great idea and I would be interested in how it goes for you. Could you please keep us informed along the way?
Another thing. It's just a thought but maybe on some days your thoughts might not be grateful. If so, I hope that doesn't stop you writing them into your wonderful story of the next year.
Cheers.
H
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