This is a great thread that started while I was gone. I can relate to so much of what has been written.

I find myself going both ways on this one. When I was undergoing treatment, and perhaps for awhile very shortly thereafter, I was a mess psychologically. I spent a lot of time in my own head, and as a result I could be quite short with people. I worked all the way through treatment, did not have a PEG, etc., so I was very much into projecting an image of normalcy, while inside I was scared as hell. That dichotomy is not good.

I am now 6 months down the road from the end of treatment, and have been through the emotional ups and downs of the first two PET scans, repeated follow up visits, and the ever-changing spectrum of symptoms that follow treatment and bilateral neck dissection. While having gone through a bout of depression early on after treatment, now I have found a bit more balance.

In general, I ask myself "How important is it?" when I am tempted to get upset over something. Usually, the answer is "Not very." However, when the answer comes back "Very Important", I find that I am much more direct in moving to resolve the issue.

I think both things can be summarized as being no longer willing to waste time. If it ain't worth getting upset over, accept it and move on. If it is worth acting on, take the action, get a resolution, and move on. My 14 years in A.A. also helps on these types of things.

Right now I am on my first day of a new job, having just come back from a 7 day Caribbean cruise, and other than not being ready to deal with snow after 86 degree weather, life is good today!