Let's start with an extract from a guy writing a book about lymphoma - excuse the language!
"I'm currently in remission, but thanks to Cancer being a f'ing headache before and during, it keeps on f'ing you for the rest of your life. It's like being an alcoholic. Even if you're not drinking, you are still an alcoholic. Just recovering. Same with cancer. I'm a recovering cancerholic.
Imagine me in a room and introducing myself:
Me: I'm Matt and my cancer is in remission.
Group: Hi, Matt!"
That is put so well! I was a Stage 1A and cure rates are up close to 100% - yet its something that does not just go away - even if the disease does.
I will have follow up tests for the next two years at least. A close fellow hodge survivor friend of mine will have tests for 5 years through being part of a study. FIVE years. Long time.
Practically you can be of full health and completely cured, yet it will be there for years. That means it will be part of your life for many years.
I have my first follow-up appointment with Dr A on the 8th of April. Its been 3 months since the last clean PET scan - its gone quite quick.
So what is the answer to dealing with this? It would appear that the answer is to put it out of your mind and just carry on your life as normal. But you know what - i think that is dangerous also. There are times when you want to talk about anything BUT the illness, yet others when you want to talk about NOTHING but the illness - for a short time at least.
Looks like i'm going to be a challenge for my friends / family for the next few years still!
Worth thinking about!
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