Hi Warren

You have a massive advantage in your age. Unlike us "old farts", your ability to bounce back is just so much better. That is not to say that your journey won't be a difficult one but with support and knowledge, you can do this. Hopefully in a few months time, you will wonder what all the fuss was about.

Fear of the unknown was the thing that scared Alex and I the most, and once we got going with treatment, the fear became manageable. Now the fear is around it coming back and we are coming to terms with this being a background stressor for the rest of our lives. We are assured by others before us, that this too will lessen with time.

There are people who get through treatment and get on with their lives and unfortunately, they are the ones who post here whilst they are in treatment and then disappear from the boards to live their lives. Of course, I am thrilled for them but I say "unfortunately", because it does tend to skew the posts here towards the fears and difficulties of treatment. Amongst the fear and doom, there are some truly inspirational people who open their hearts, refuse to lie down and who dedicate their time to helping others. Even the "newbies" are extraordinary in their outlook. Find them (or wait for them to find you) and listen to them.

The information you get here will help you to understand your options SHOULD it happen rather than WHEN is happens and you should be reassured that your young age, early diagnosis and support system are all in your favour.

Keep us posted with your progress