Coping with emotional effects of having serious illness with high mortality rate.

Marksie · 29-10-2006 08:53PM

CathyMoran wrote:

I do not smoke nor would I smoke, if I had smoked I would not be getting the operation. I am not using any alternative treatments apart from massage.

Good luck cathy, It does sound a little more encouraging. I will be sending positive thoughts your way.

CathyMoran · 02-12-2006 11:20PM

An update more than anything - am hopefully going for my final chemo in a week, I just have to get some very important tests to confirm that at the same time and then it is all set for the oesophagus removal in February and hopefully bye, bye cancer. I am able to eat normally now which is very positive. I am looking forward to my wedding in just under 4 weeks time.

I am worried about my fiancee smccarrick and would be greatful if people could keep an eye on him, it is very tough on him and I feel guilty that I can not give him the full support that he needs.

I did get assessed to see if I needed councelling but they said that I was fine - I am going to yoga though.

Looking forward to Christmas

Oh, and thanks for all of your support so far.

Red Alert · 03-12-2006 06:31PM

It's to great to hear you're starting on the way to mend.

Hope you keep well and you and SMcCarrick have a nice christmas. You deserve it.

TerrorFirmer · 03-12-2006 09:27PM

Good to hear things are looking positive for you Cathy - hope it makes christmas all the better for you. Good luck.

FranknFurter · 03-12-2006 10:14PM

Glad to hear that things are looking up for you Cathy, keep hangin in there girl!

B

murrayeel · 04-12-2006 07:50AM

hey Cathy! just don't brood on that survival rate thing. the more you think of it the more you'll get scared. a friend of mine who withstood breastcancer did the same stuff we used to enjoy. i guess her knowing we, her friends are always beside her made her forget about the sickness that amazed us of her full recovery. she has done it pretty well, and i know you could do it too.

LadyJ · 04-12-2006 05:46PM

Hi Cathy,

I've only read this thread now, as I've not been on boards in a good while. I'm so glad to hear that things are looking up for you. You have a lot to live for so keep fighting.

I've been in hospital a lot myself recently,getting various tests done and worrying that there might be something seriously wrong with me. So far things are looking good but I know how stressful and frightning it is to have to worry about health. It's something that I always took for granted but not anymore!

I really hope that you will get through this and I know if you do then you will have a whole new appreciation for life. I can't imagine how horrible the last couple of months have been for you but stay positive and enjoy Christmas and you wedding day!

LegacyUser · 04-12-2006 06:16PM

'cathy hope you and SMcCarrick have a great wedding day and hope ye have a great future together. and also have a great chrimbo dinner!'

CathyMoran · 04-12-2006 08:35PM

LadyJ wrote:

I've been in hospital a lot myself recently,getting various tests done and worrying that there might be something seriously wrong with me. So far things are looking good but I know how stressful and frightning it is to have to worry about health. It's something that I always took for granted but not anymore!

LadyJ - I hope that they find out what is wrong with you soon and that it is not serious. I suppose for me that I was lucky in that from consultant to diagnosis was less than 2 weeks though I had bad symptoms from August and mild symptoms from March. I really hope that it all works out well for you.

Am really looking forward to my wedding - doing the last bit of planning this week as next week is chemo week and the week after is recovery but I can not wait to be Shanes wife

Gazza22 · 04-12-2006 09:44PM

Hi Cathy,

I only came across this thread tonight, haven't been on boards much the past few weeks.

Have seen you around boards the past 2 years but we never really crossed! Just want to say that i hope you are better soon. I have read your posts and your path to recovery looks great! Looking forward to the day you post about the treatment being sucessful!!!

Have a great wedding, a brilliant christmas and fair played to you for being so strong!

aidan24326 · 04-12-2006 11:54PM

Best of luck with it all. Your positive attitude is half the battle.

iguana · 05-12-2006 03:36AM

CathyMoran wrote:

Looking forward to Christmas

Oh, and thanks for all of your support so far.

Hey Cathy not to trouble you or anything but I think from a lurker on this thread, I'd really like you to keep posting and touch base on this thread if it's not too much trouble. If my subscription doesn't ping every few weeks, I start to fret.

Dina Rabinovitch, is a children's book reviewer for the Guardian, she's battle breast cancer. Her children's books reviews are pettering out, but she's writing the occasional column

It's so easy. One week Matt hooks me up to the drip while I finish writing a piece about Barbara Clark, the nurse who threatened the government with the European court of human rights unless she could have Herceptin on the NHS. "Hold on one sec," Clark says when I phone her, "I've got Patricia Hewitt on the other line."

"It's because it's breast cancer," Matt says, when I wonder out loud why the government responded so quickly to the Herceptin campaign. "Breast cancer's the one that gets the attention - not like bowel cancer: you know, English people don't like to talk about bowels."

"It's the way the government works these days," adds Anthony, multi-tasking as a pundit, while he builds Spiderman Lego on the floor to keep our son Elon from coming to sit on my lap while I try to type with Matt's interesting tubing now growing out of my wrist. "These days it's all responding to single issues, without any overall strategy. There's an election looming and they'll say, 'See, look how quickly we acted on Herceptin.'"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1678340,00.html

Her book of columns on the subject is coming out early next year "Hang up your party dress", with proceeds towards cancer charity. Her mixture of determination, fear, courage, and desperation has reasonated deeply with me, as has your story.

Good luck, good karma and god bless.

empirix · 05-12-2006 05:50PM

Hi Cathy,

Don't know you but am familiar with your name and posting etc, you seem like really great person and i personally take strength from this. I wish you all the best with your battle and will pray for you. Be strong.

Strength and honour x.

CathyMoran · 06-12-2006 11:39AM

iguana wrote:

Hey Cathy not to trouble you or anything but I think from a lurker on this thread, I'd really like you to keep posting and touch base on this thread if it's not too much trouble. If my subscription doesn't ping every few weeks, I start to fret.

Thanks to all for the good wishes - will see if I can get Shane to post next week as I am having very important tests done. Having great fun with the wedding, we booked a place to stay for our first 2 nights too

CathyMoran · 16-12-2006 12:52AM

Am home a day early from chemo - I got really good results from my CAT scan, the tumor has shrunk and has not spread, still can not believe it, it is great news.

The fact that I managed to get out a day early was great, I just did not eat for 3 days really apart from Fortisip (a nutritional drink) during the bad days and that really helped with the nausea, though I would not reccomend it for everyone.

I am allowed to, and even encouraged to go on holidays in January before the surgery which is even more good new.

Thanks for everyones support.

DaBreno · 16-12-2006 12:56AM

Wow, thats Fantastic! Great stuff.

Drift · 16-12-2006 01:42AM

Great news Cathy. Glad to hear it.

Stargal · 16-12-2006 03:16AM

That's great to hear - sounds like you're well on the road to recovery

Lorax · 16-12-2006 03:29AM

Hi Cathy, great to see you are getting better. I remember reading your post when you first found out about it. Keep it up!

Beruthiel · 16-12-2006 08:26AM

CathyMoran wrote:

Am home a day early from chemo - I got really good results from my CAT scan, the tumor has shrunk and has not spread, still can not believe it, it is great news.

Cathy
I am delighted to hear that everything is going so well, news like that must be just about the best Christmas prezzie ever!

Asiaprod · 16-12-2006 11:31AM

What a great xmas prezzy, well done.

empirix · 16-12-2006 10:42PM

Brilliant news Cathy - have a great Xmas/Holiday

smallpaws · 16-12-2006 11:41PM

Am home a day early from chemo - I got really good results from my CAT scan, the tumor has shrunk and has not spread, still can not believe it

*distant but audible clapping and cheering from America*

tinkerbell · 16-12-2006 11:53PM

That's great news Cathy, I hope you have a lovely Christmas and an amazing wedding day. Hope your surgery goes well in the new year.

Takeshi_Kovacs · 17-12-2006 09:47PM

I wish you the best of luck, and hope you enjoy your special day..

chuckberry · 17-12-2006 11:43PM

CathyMoran wrote:

Hi,

I was only diagnosed with oesophageal cancer on Monday, am only 32 but the whole emotional effects that it is having on me, my family and friends is huge. I have a very high chance of dying (survival rate of 10% was quoted on the following web site): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3445199.stm

If anyone else is going through something similar or who has seen a loved one go through this I would be greatful. If anyone has any coping techniques that would be great.

Please note - I am strictly asking about the emotional effects of my condition, not about anything else, I have an excellent medical team who are looking after me and trust them for that, but the emotional component of being told that you have a high chance of dying is a totally diiferent issue and it is that which I am asking about now.

Sorry for posting this on PI, I have already told a few people who have been brilliant friends but they have not been through what I am going through.

12 plus years on I am still here! I had major surgery and now my follow ups are once a year.

I was shocked to my core before I reached 30yrs old but time calmed things down over time.

I followed my much loved now sadly departed at a ripe old age Mums philosophy of life "Just get on with it!"

Don't be scaring yourself reading web pages.

Divide that section of your life away and only visit it when you have too. You and all of the things you do are much more important than your disease, treat it with contempt and carry on your life as normal.

Don't let it fill your day. Just get on with life and divert your thinking by doing anything at all outside of the time when you are actively dealing with your condition. remember the disease is a small aspect intruding on you. Don't let it take over your thoughts. As as it enters at an inappropriate time actively seek somthing else to kick it out again.

Good luck

Red Alert · 18-12-2006 10:44AM

Great stuff Cathy!

Hope your Christmas is a good one - you really deserve it

CathyMoran · 24-12-2006 11:11AM

Thanks to everyone's support this year, especially over the past few months, you have have been of great help. Taste buds starting to return today which is great:D Merry Christmas everyone

daveg · 24-12-2006 11:15AM

CathyMoran wrote:

Thanks to everyone's support this year, especially over the past few months, you have have been of great help. Taste buds starting to return today which is great:D Merry Christmas everyone

Hi Cathy. Read your post sometime back and was really sorry to hear about your illness but it's great to hear your therapy is going well. Have a really nice Xmas and best best of luck for 2007.

Fast_Mover · 24-12-2006 04:23PM

CathyMoran wrote:

Taste buds starting to return today which is great

Pefect timing and all:D

Hope you've such a nice christmas..and an even better wedding..you truly deserve it!

Wishing you health and happiness for 2007..Best of luck with everything!

xx

Coping with emotional effects of having serious illness with high mortality rate.

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