What helps you to stay positive?

I don't know about this one as during radio therapy towards the end it became very depressing as the effects became so terrible. Certainly panic once while in the machine required the ending of the treatment that day. The burns and lesions both external and internal on the throat were building. I was strapped to the machine's table by a plastic cage specially made to ensure I did not move, But with the massive weight loss caused the fitting to fail which could and did restart that treatment for the day. I was unable to eat causing a loss of six stone over the treatment and the threats to be forced to stay in hospital to be fed through a tube ever present. A young fit American airman going through the treatment at the same time was taken into hospital half way through the treatment. Then massive constipation caused by the morphine meant I had not been for several weeks. So keeping positive was not exactly the priority as just surviving the treatment was the aim and counting the days to the end. For those not being treated for head and neck cancer the treatment is much less problematic as the trunk or breast more resilient to such damage and long term affects. The burns and lesions can be treated by some excellent creams and your eating unaffected. If you don't need morphine to avoid the constipation but I had no idea of such effects and preparing for them can offset the effects. So listen to those staff supporting you, they know what happens and can be really helpful to avoid the pitfalls. Staff have to be sensitive, my brother suffering bone cancer began his treatment rather late and when through continual treatment to the end. He stayed really positive all the way through until the doctors told him they could do no more. It was at that point it broke him and died a week or so later, his spirit totally broken. I discussed it with his wife who was upset that the young doctor put it over in an unfeeling way. The staff should never destroy hope in an insensitive way but no doubt this was due to doctor's inexperience.

That's a difficult one, everyone is affected very differently by their treatment so what works for one most certainly won't work for another. 

For me I don't tend to take life that seriously so I don't stay down for very long. That said, of course I have down days and on those days staying positive is harder. For me, I have himself and my wonderful dogs to keep me sane and grounded, I also practice yoga (badly!), pilates (stiffly) . I also try meditation but that really is a work in progress .

I think it's important to just deal with things in your own way, laugh if you can, cry if you need to and enjoy the small things. 

You don't have to positive if you don't want to! 

@maddoglady Excellent advice given there. Animals are wonderful at cheering people up.

Hello everyone,

How are you today?

I thought I would revive this older, but helpful discussion! 

Going through cancer treatment or caring for someone with cancer can be hard on the morale.

What do you do to stay positive on hard days? What helps motivate you to keep fighting?
@Lindacork‍ @Suebeck‍ @AndyW65‍ @Jjshrimper‍ @ValerieKemp‍ @Janecat‍ @Anxious‍ @Judith01‍ @Mtracey‍ @Edwena‍ @BrianTree‍ @Scottishgirlie‍ @Ruk_noor‍ @Haskem1‍ @Joey5771‍ @AnaKelly‍ @Beverley/13‍ @JonBella‍ @Schoey‍ 

Feel free to share and discuss here!

Take care,
Courtney

I found out I had cancer by being ill with a chest infection, I was sent to have a ct scan and that's how I found out I had 2 lumps in each breast ,my right breast I had drained ,but my left one I couldnt as that was a malignant cancer ,I had a full mastectomy and 6 wks of radiotherapy with electrons and protons,at the end of my treatment I rang ,a bell to say treatment had finished, but walking out that door was so scary as I knew then I was alone and that is the worst feeling to have as when you was getting treated you had that shoulder to lean on they started me with letrazole but that made my bones weaker and hurt more so now I am on anastrazole, but I am  suffering from lymphoedema have to wear a sleeve and a glove, I have been clear for 3yrs but it is still scary as now nursing a fractured collarbone and humorous and being on the same side as my breast cancer I'm am really worried that my cancer will come back and that really makes my mental health worse as all my life things have been put in front of me and I feel like its waiting for the next thing to come around ,I do suffer with lots of different illnesses on top of everything else, I really feel like in a half of a woman I still cant look at myself in a mirror as i feel ugly ,its horrible feeling this way i do try to stay positive but when i feel as my life is getting better something else comes around ,all my life i have had nothing but doom and gloom if it wasnt for my family i wouldn't be able to carry on ,and i hate feeling this way Tigger 

The long term effects of cancer treatment are also life changing so the misery carries on throughout your life. But we have to make the best  of what we have and live on not just for yourself but your family around you. There is always someone worse off than you who don't survive and go through a terrible death due to cancer. To be alive we suffer great pains and emotions in life, many unrelated to cancer, that is life, be safe!

My Lung cancer was discovered quite by accident. I had a routine MRI before decisions were made for a hearing aid. The cancer sparkled like a diamond on my right lung, could not believe the amazing ‘picture’ I saw on the ENT consultant’s screen!  Within a month/6 weeks I was having my procedure, as they say. Lower lobe on right lung and wedge from upper lung. Everything went fine for 24 hours. THEN I developed Sepsis and Pneumonia. Induced coma, temporary tracheostomy etc., turning a 5 day stay into almost 4 weeks. For the most part I was ok because I was “out of it” but my two daughters went through hell worrying about me.  I cannot PRAISE the Critical Care unit of Nottingham City hospital enough! Fantastic nursing, beyond ALL expectations. BrilliantConsultant, amazing doctors etc. 4 weeks later I began my Chemo treatment, double dose (2 mixes) one week, one dose 2nd week, week off and begin again for 12 weeks. Treatment was fine, brilliant HAPPY department run by Nurses. Then during my second week I began the trials of side effects. Fast forward to the end of my treatment when I actually rang the bell, brilliant feeling, I was hit by a wrecker ball! Mouth ulcers, swollen feet, hair falling out in clumps. Son in law sorted out my hair with his clippers, still having dressings to my trachea area, again son in law to the rescue. (Works for NHS) Tired and forlorn I got through everything, eventually, but I still have CIN. Chemo induced Neuropathy. Firstly fingers and feet. Fingers almost normal, but my feet!! I take 600mg Gabapentin 3 times a day yet my feet still feel like they don’t belong to me. BUT, I’m ALIVE and BREATHING, lol and that is the way I cope. IF I ever hear the phrase ‘ThinkPositive’, I’m bloody sure I’ll scream! That phrase NEVER came out of the mouth of a Cancer Survivor, for sure. However, I’m sending HUGE hugs and a lot of LOVE and understanding to everyone out there who has had treatment, undergoing treatment and those awaiting treatment too. ❤️