Hi Lisa2, I completed my 4th cycle of chemo 3 weeks ago. Before the 1st cycle I didn’t know what to expect, you hear all kinds of horror stories about it and so I was some where between shitting myself and terrified ( please excuse the S word ) but that’s how I felt. Over all  I liken the 4 cycles to a boxing match, after the first 2 rounds I thought that this fight is fairly even so far , then bang! The 3rd round got me with a couple of surprise punches that I didn’t recover as well, before the 4th round the neuropathy and tiredness were getting to me. Now 3 weeks later I am feeling a whole lot better but the chemo brain fog and tiredness are still with me, but I’m feeling more like a human rather than a walking sack of side effects. Knowing that they were side effects and not real sickness helped me tremendously, side effects go away, sickness sometimes doesn’t. Also staying positive I found so important for me. Dealing with what I know for sure and trying not to project my thoughts into future unknowns because that can end up being the playground for fear ( which loves to think it has a job to do). I talk to fear and say listen, I’m not being chased by sharp toothed monsters or angry hoards coming to kill me so I know you need to feel you have a job to do but just relax for a change and leave it to me, I’ve got this covered, just chill for a while fear, I’ll call on you if I need you. I hate the common terminologies surrounding cancer( even the word itself conjours up nightmares, I pulled a nurse up who told me they were putting poisons into me and said how can it be poison if it saves my life? I see it more as life giving elixir with a few temporary down sides. I know positive visualisation helped me a lot and using my own terminologies rather than the professional medical people’s terms, I think they become a bit blaze’ with the whole thing and the word ‘cancer’ to them is just a term they use but to the newly diagnosed patient it can be a horrific word to use. Anyway that’s just my take on how I am dealing with things. Hang in there take control of your thoughts give yourself a Pat on the back and a loving hug. You have all the power you need inside of yourself. I hope this has helped you in some way, take care. From Gary1 ... View more

Thank you Lisa2  ... View more

Hi my name is Gary and I was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago I have just completed my 4th round of chemo and the surgeon wants to remove my whole stomach. I am terrified about surviving the surgery and if there is a life after surgery, what quality of life will it be?  I am 66 years old with under lying heart and lung problems.  Please any advice would be appreciated, thank you.  ... View more