Hello, just wanted to welcome you to this forum and say how sorry I am about your diagnosis.  My own cancer is ovarian, but at present I am plodding on with my second round of 6 chemos and hoping for a few more years respite. However, there are others on here in the same boat as you who have gone on long past the predicted time, and you will find them on the 'dying with cancer' thread which you can reach by clicking on to the drop down menu just above your message.  I know they will welcome you, and will be able to help, advise and comfort you, and hopefully give you strength. 

God bless, 

Hazel x

Hi

As haze says there can be quite a lot of variation in how long people actually go on for - and the quality of life they enjoy.

For example my wife died in October of peritoneal cancer. Now from diagnosis typically people get a couple of years that is 50% make 2 years but as I recall 25% get 5 years. Now her mother had the same condition 30 years earlier and made 4 years and Melanie made 3 ( that annoyed her - she could be competetive )

She dealt with it by simply just not thinking about it and carrying on as if nothing were wrong - She said she'd make a great Ostrich! I don't know that it is advisable for everybody but it worked for her - all the negative thoughts you have about your condition are completely justified - No it's not fair, yes you can feel rubbish but all of those thoughts don't actually help in any way and if you can just put them out of your mind and live each day as if you were immortal you may surprise yourself with how well you can use the time you have left. 

I'm attaching this picture because I think it's quite inspirational (I hope you do too)  - this is 18 months after diagnosis with a 2 year prognosis - here she is building a greenhouse!

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She got 2 summers of tomatoes out of it!

Now she was lucky and had relatively few symptoms until the end and was generally over the chemo after a couple of days - You may not be up to building a greenhouse it might be taking a weekend away or even walking around the shops.

The point is that they say "Live each day as if it were your last" - I would say don't! It's a mind game you can carry on regardless or curl up and die - Cancer doesn't care its up to you

Hi, Graham, 

Just wanted to thank you for posting the photo of your Melanie and your comments to try and help Pancreas.  I've read several of your posts re the greenhouse building, so lovely to actually see your wife in action!  You must really treasure this photo.  

Hoping you are managing to cope, and wishing you all the best.

Hazel x