![]() ![]() And if it doesn’t go to plan, don’t beat yourself up.Īt the same time, as some abandon you, many other people will give you fantastic support – and they won’t always be the people you expect. As a cancer patient, if you can be open and honest about your experience, you can help guide those around you. Cancer is a lot for everyone to come to terms with, for you and for everyone around you.īe kind to yourself – at times it’s an emotional as well as physical rollercoaster. Not everyone will support you during the very tough times, and some people will even abandon you – I’ve lost a friendship during my cancer rollercoaster. It makes you think about what’s important in life and what’s not. It’s true – when you have cancer, your priorities change. Your relationships change in unexpected ways Every single cancer nurse, oncologist and surgeon have been wonderful and I feel so fortunate to be receiving their care. My treatment teams have played a huge role in keeping me feeling positive and strong about life. This isn’t something that’s just happening to me – this is normal Anne now. Anne on chemotherapy is normal Anne, and Anne having surgical procedures is normal Anne. One way that I manage this situation is by repositioning all the changes as normal. I always look at the most positive thing in each day, not the negative. I still get so much pleasure out of living, even if it’s just feeling the cool air on my face.Ĭancer is a rollercoaster, but I want people to know that you can still live as if you’re living and not as if you’re dying and you can still get the positive out of every day. Life isn’t any less beautiful if you have cancer – I still get the same joy out of being in nature, spending time with my family and friends, getting on my bike and in my kayak. You are no longer the last person to leave social gatherings and you feel your body is no longer your own.īut I don’t want people to be afraid of cancer. ![]() To the world of hospital beds, multiple surgical procedures, admissions to emergency via ambulance, chemotherapy, numerous blood tests, scans and medical appointments. You can’t see what’s going on inside your body and then, suddenly, you’re transported from the world of feeling great to the world of the chronically ill. Life is still beautifulĪ lot of people are understandably afraid of cancer. I hope that if you’re also going through terminal cancer, or you love someone who is, my thoughts can help and comfort you. I’ve thought a lot about what I want people to know – about what it’s like having terminal cancer, and if I’ve learnt anything during this rollercoaster. So many people are affected by cancer, why not me? Even back then, I never thought, “why me?”. I was told if chemotherapy did not work, I would only have six weeks to live. I don’t really remember Christmas Day, it’s a blur, but I know that my husband Tony and I told our two adult children Mark and Michelle that day that I had cancer. Stage 4 means the cancer is advanced and has spread to other organs and areas of the body – it’s essentially the most severe form of cancer. I was diagnosed with stage 4B ovarian cancer on Christmas Eve 2019. I think that like so many other issues in life, we can deal with cancer better when it’s out in the open. But I don’t want the awkwardness that comes with pretending that it isn’t happening or that the outcome will be any different. That kind of honesty isn’t for everyone, and I know it makes some people uncomfortable. People often don’t know how to talk about cancer and dying. Her family has given their blessing for this letter to be shared.ĭear reader, I have terminal cancer. Shortly before she died in August 2022, Anne was encouraged by this support to share with you how she faced cancer. As a caring supporter of Cancer Council NSW, you give people like Anne support and dignity when facing terminal cancer. Search research by cancer type or topicĪnne was a strong, and courageous woman.Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people.13 11 20 – Speak to a cancer professional.Cancer information for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. ![]()
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