Hello CarolineRo,

Ten years on from a stage 4 bowel cancer with spread to the liver my advice is get all the doubts, what ifs, and why me's out of the way as soon as you possibly can and focus on what you need to do with what lie's in front of you.

The sooner you can accept that there is nothing you can do to change where you are, but you can change on where you are going and how you go about getting there. Its not easy, and be greedy in taking all the help you can get .Do not do denial but go big on acceptance. Remember that stress is your enemy and your enemies right hand assistant in the quest to overcome you. Remember you can win battles but you need to win your war, so pace yourself and do not overcommit your mental energy at the beginning.

Bring the very best you to your treatment,and use that to gain the maximum benefit from the excellent treatment your medical team will supply.

And if you are anything like me, take comfort when you are absolutely knackered from the effects of the treatment that your uninvited guest is getting a damn good stitching and picked the wrong place to invade.

Its hard at the very beginning but trust me when l tell you that cancer patients find that inner strength that resides within them which they have never had to call upon before, and it will serve you will to help you to a future that is beyond the initial diagnosis shock.

Go forward gently and never lose sight of the fact that each tiny step adds up to a path well travelled when joined by thousands of others,

David

David your words are comforting and I will reread many times. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I need to get the fight back in me!

I can not thank you enough. Bless you!

Caroline

David, I am newly diagnosed and these words are so uplifting. I am at the early stage of learning how to cope but your comments have helped so much.

Hello Farmer-Ed,

thank you,lets hope that this post and the many others like it provide the hope, vision, inspiration, and encouragement for those who follow along the journey we have had travel,

David

Hello Brook21,

l wish you well on your journey,keep the things that bring you joy close by as you travel the path.For me one was my adopted logo which l chose to upload on my computers screen saver to remind me their is still joy to be found amongst the hardest of times, click on the picture to upsize to see what l mean, such a little thing like water giving that moment of so much happiness

David

Love the pic, I am going to find one for me