Hi Michelle,

I feel so uncomfortable when people are told they’ve “beaten cancer” and are encouraged to ring bells etc. That raises false hope and expectations and may make the staff and some patients happy in the short term but the fear and risk of cancer returning never really goes away. 

You need to remind yourself that every case is different and that you are not your Dad. This may sound corny, but you are bound to make that comparison - even if your brain tells you that it’s illogical. 

Let’s look at the positives.
You are young and hopefully physically fit - which should help your body cope with the side effects of whatever treatment.
You have a lot to live for - so you are less likely to give up on your treatment. 
You have already been through treatment and know what to expect.
You have a lot of supportive friends and family.

Different cancer I know, but my profile story shows how many people beat the odds. In a nutshell, I was diagnosed at Stage 4 and given a terminal prognosis and put onto a palliative care pathway back in 2013. Never give up hope. 

Good luck!
Dave

Yes Dave this is true I believed I had beaten cancer and I rang the bell, it makes you believe that it’s all over and done with and for many people this is not true and I wish I had known back then but I can’t change it now. 

Thanks for the reminder that I am not the same person as my dad I watched him deteriorate from May 2022 when he got diagnosed until he passed away in August and it was a very hard thing to go through and I just thought oh no is this going to happen to me it is going to be this quick for me but as you say it’s not the same.

Thanks so much for listing my positives Dave I actually do have a few things in my favour and you have helped me to realise that I can do this and it’s not a death sentence.

I’m so happy that you are here to tell your tale 11 years on after a terminal prognosis and yes I will never give up hope thank you for your reply Dave it made my day all the best for you and take care.

Do you have any home remedies Dave? Nutrition exercise ?  

Michelle

Yes Dave this is true I believed I had beaten cancer and I rang the bell, it makes you believe that it’s all over and done with and for many people this is not true and I wish I had known back then but I can’t change it now. 

Thanks for the reminder that I am not the same person as my dad I watched him deteriorate from May 2022 when he got diagnosed until he passed away in August and it was a very hard thing to go through and I just thought oh no is this going to happen to me it is going to be this quick for me but as you say it’s not the same.

Thanks so much for listing my positives Dave I actually do have a few things in my favour and you have helped me to realise that I can do this and it’s not a death sentence.

I’m so happy that you are here to tell your tale 11 years on after a terminal prognosis and yes I will never give up hope thank you for your reply Dave it made my day all the best for you and take care.

Do you have any home remedies Dave? Nutrition exercise ?  

Michelle

My Mum and Grandad’s cancer experience were poles apart. All of us had chemo but weirdly I didn’t lose much hair - despite being told I’d lose everything because the EOX regime was brutal and I was on a high dosage.
Sadly my only deviation from the norm was drinking red wine during chemo - because everything else tasted like petrol.
Post chemo, I’ve just eaten a fairly normal diet with moderate exercise (dog walking and dinghy sailing). 

Thanks Dave for all your advice and support