Hello

[Janeway19]

I am new to this community. On the one hand, I can hopefully provide hope for people newly diagnosed, as my body reacted spectacularly to my initial three years (total) of aggressive treatment. I have been NED since I finished year one, which was 2012. Hurray! But I have had lingering issues from my treatment and from a tsunami of stressful life events that coincided with my diagnosis and treatment. Getting people to understand the myriad complexities of living with cancer, no matter your status, is something we probably all have in common and struggle with. I wish the best for all of us.

[mariootsi]

So good to have you here. Always helps to hear about good treatment results.

And yes we have many things in common as we try to maneuver our way through the cancer maze.

[Red71]

Thank you for joining us. It is always good to have the perspective of people who are in different treatment stages. I was NED after 6 months of treatment but have pain from bone lesions that were fairly advanced when diagnosed, so the new normal is not at all like the normal. But better than many alternatives! Elaine

[Janeway19]

I appreciate everyone's hellos. I really do. I've been so blessed with my NED status...but at the same time in my post dx years, my life outside of my cancer exploded and went crazy with *several* different crisis moments and situations, made worse by my cancer treatment (and ultimate prognosis of being stage 4), and I've been in a bit of a quagmire getting things sorted out with my medical team (across the board, not just oncology). I have some new ideas, a new therapist, also some improved health now, so I'm confident I will yet get this quagmire cleared up so I can thrive again. God forbid the tumors return and I'm still in this quagmire!

In the meantime, I can't help but feel like too many people (medical, employers and coworkers, and even friends) look at me and all they see is: single, no kids, no tumors = I'm Paris Hilton! And any "problems" must be in my head. Argh! So I really appreciate the warm welcome.