Finished up two years of treatment in April. Going in for my first post-treatment labs in a week. I am optimistic but anxious.
Does anyone have any advice or perspective on how to cope with the uncertainty? How do you make peace with it?
Thanks
Wish me luck!!
I get scan anxiety.. I pray on it.
Appreciate everything that you have, take a couple of deep breaths, know that it will be what it will be after which you can organize a plan of attack, take it day by day, say I love you more often.
Put your case details (voluntary) in your profile here. Its bad kharma not to.
Thanks. I have added case details. I need all the good kharma I can get.
Used to be anxious before scans. I have adopted the attitude that when it is time to go it is time to go and no longer think about it. I have made peace with the process and my own mortality. I will say easier said than done
Positivity is half the battle. I find the best way to not fixate on PCa results is just keep yourself busy. Whether that’s a hobby, gardening, etc. Do something that makes you happy and will help keep your mind off of things. Best of luck.
I practice Mindfulness. It took a lot of practice to make it a habit, but now it is.
Benzodiazapines
My approach maybe to simplistic but I do not worry about something that I would not be able to change in the first place. Been doing that all my life. Now if I have control that is a different story. Then I need a plan to take action.
just rock on my friend, do not worry, do NOT let the cancer run your life!!!!
After 26 years trust me, you just keep going forward and live LARGE EACH AND EVERY DAY!!
Practice meditation, every day or almost every day. Stay optimistic. Do good things to your mind and body. And accept to be anxious, it’s totally normal, we all are anxious when it it’s the day for our next medical check. But for all other days, to follow above recommendations will reduce and eliminate anxiety. Good luck!
been doing it for a decade. Have my treatments and appts every three years and I live my life to the fullest in between.
Tune it out.
I’m a year in and hoping to do the same. So far so good! Great reply!
Gratitude in everything, no matter what.
As my dad so eloquently said in his letter to his kids, time to “strike the tents, “ a Soldier’s term for time to move on. Like most of us, I spent the greater part of my life not thinking about the end but in the end, I knew it was coming for me and while not embracing it, accepted it.
What do I ask of you,, remember how much I enjoyed being here, know how much you meant to me, that I loved you and that I wish you find the peace that I have in this part of my life.
I suspect that we all feel anxious and scared when we go to the next appointment. When is that other shoe going to drop? as it were. Many great suggestions here for coping.
My mind game? I tell myself: How is this any different than any other day in my life? At any moment, I may have a stroke, heart attack, etc., or some other disaster may befall me (eg., recently, I had what one doc thought was a TIA where my face drooped, my arm fell to my side, I became disoriented - all of this happened on a cruise ship, btw. I thought I was having a stroke). I tell myself - and it's all about our internal narratives (see Rational Emotive Psychotherapy developed by Albert Ellis)- that the Sword of Damocles that hangs over my head - may fall at any time. Can I do anything about? Probably very little. So, realizing that possible peril, I go on with less anxiety than I might otherwise feel. Some may refer to this as denial but, I think not. It's a way of getting control - and it's THAT fear of lack of control that feeds my/our anxiety - that is so critically important to how I/we cope with life. So, each of us finds his own way. Good wishes and good luck with all.
EdinBaltimore
I do think reminding yourself what a good life you have had helps. If I die tomorrow I have been very lucky. I am in the same boat as you just 9 months ahead and PSA =0. I do get anxious ever 3 months for a few days before school test. It is not disabling. Mostly I try not to think about it much.
I noticed in your bio you were diagnosed in 2012 and had surgery in 2021. Did you do active surveillance up until this point, or have other treatment?
You are not alone as we will all follow in your footsteps.
Lord, grant me the strength to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference.
Most think that the key words are the nouns strength, serenity and wisdom; but I say that the key words are the verbs change, accept and knowing. If one practices those verbs throughout their lifetime then they will have earned the nouns.
Godspeed in your journey!
pray!
you’ve had NO labs in 2 years?
I have had labs every 90 days during treatment. For some reason I feel diffferently about it without the safety net of Lupron and Xtandi coursing through my system.
Is localized treatment possible under the guidance of a medical oncologist who lives miles away from me?
Not good news for me today.
Confused - who can give me ADT injections?
Help me understand?
What non cancer people say to me
