I am living with cancer right to the end. Yes, I am terminal and I want to help anyone who needs information as to the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of my journey. Until you have walked in our shoes over a long period of time, no one can truly understand. Part of that is our fault for not speaking out and speaking the truth. How can we expect loved ones, caretakers, and even professionals to know if we don't tell them the way it is.

Welcome - I'm sorry for your dx. There are several people here with a similar dx to yours. I think you will be an invaluable member. Hugs and so good to have you join.

Many people will not understand, anymore than my family or friends do, that 16 of my relatives have died of cancer and I'm the last of the line. The word cancer and all aspects of it have been a major part of my life. I had made up my mind years ago I would not fight it. I didn't an I am dying. Mentally I have been prepared for this due to family history. What I wasn't prepared for I wanted to know everything and I couldn't find but a paragraph here and a page there Thus, I wrote 10 chapters for my hospice to give to their patients on all the stages,tips on everything, as well as every subject I thought might help others.
Now I have added 20 more chapters and it is online free for anyone to read...patients, caregivers, and professionals. I can't put the url on here but if you send me an email, I will be more than happy to give it to you.
Cancer doesn't just affect the person who has it. As most of you know you have loved ones and friends that don't understand and have no idea how to act around you. They are worried. You are worried. People tell you at first, "just call me and I'll help in any way I can". But they are alive and don't want to deal with any part of it. They become pretty scarce. The phone calls quit, the mail box no longer has greeting cards in it, etc. Part of that was my fault. I chose "no treatment" and they thought I was a coward.
But to make things worse, I was old I had 8 months to live. I believed the Dr. as he is professional cancer expert. So, I started cutting myself away from people so they didn't have to endure along with me out of obligation. I put everything in order, gave everything I owned away to family, friends, and the homeless. Sold my car and gave up driving due to all the opiods I was on. But I didn't die in 8 months. It is now a year later. I was very angry, like a child having a temper tantrum. How in the world do you go back wards?
I finished the book and got it online. Now I only hope I have the time and enough good days to get it out all around the world.

What type of cancer do you have?

Im very sorry to read about what you have been thru. I cant imagine what it has been like for you.

I also would like to know what type of cancer you have.

Are you sure that you're Incurable?

Hi Pelican,

First, I've got one of those diagnoses also; I've been Stage IVc ever since my first set of distant metastases (in my liver) back in Feb, '12.

I would also be interested in knowing what the details (to the extent you feel like sharing) on your own variety of cancer might be, how long you've been living with your diagnosis, and for that matter, how old you are. For the record, I will be 75 in May (if all goes well, naturally...)

And finally, thank you for offering to share your experience(s). If you'd care to share, I'd be happy if you'd send me the URL you mentioned.

Good luck to you,

Bart

Thank you. I only wish I had found this website a year ago. I dearly hope people will email me with questions or comments. Have a wonderful Easter.