The DOs of LIVING with cancer.

Good morning !!!!! Finally feeling like a human again. I can't really explain how it feels I just know it doesn't feel right. Overall though this has been an easy round of treatments. YAHOO !!!!!

So if and when you are diagnosed with cancer, or even if some one you know and love is there are some things you should do.

1. BE POSITIVE !!!!! Don't let the words scare you or freak you out. It is what it is and you have to move forward. Do it in a positive way. If you are a Christian you know God has a plan. Your part in that is to be obedient and most of all have FAITH.  Surround yourself with happy, positive people. You are allowed a pity party every so often but you should be the only guest. Think about how you are going to beat the disease and how you are going to LIVE with it. I am not saying it is easy. It's not! Just like anything else in life you have to want it.

2. Make sure you trust and respect your doctor and the staff he works with. Including the receptionist and all the nurses. I love my doctor. He and all the people at the office have become a huge ! part of my life. Like an extended family. One of the reasons we have that relationship is because I come into that office with a smile and a laugh every time. Your doctor is not a miracle worker (only God is) , he can only do what he knows is best for you. Don't ask silly questions like How long do I have to live? Am I going to die? Every patient is different.Your doctor is there to provide as much as care as he is capable of. When I got my diagnoses I asked "Can we manage this?'. His answer was absolutely. And we have !!! For two years now.

3. Take charge of your care and your body. Get copies of all your test results and lab work. Get to really know your body. Only you can feel what is going on. Your doctor will appreciate it too. My doctor laughs because on my visit I will tell him what I have in mind for treatments. Like now I told him I would like to go through April with chemo then I need a break. He gets a kick out of that but I know he appreciates that I know what I can take and will ask for it. I am sure if he didn't agree he would let me know.

4. Surround yourself with friends and family that will laugh with you. I say that again because if it weren't for all the positive encouragement I get I probably would have given up a long time ago. It may sound funny but FaceBook has been such a great way to share my stories and when I feel like caca I let my friends know. I receive a lot of prayer and for me that is very important. When I first started chemo I a couple of chemo parties right there in the big room. One group of friends even brought a crock pot full of yummy food. We laughed and had such a good time.

Well I guess that is enough for today. It is only 4:08am. I love this time of day, but I can see my typing is a little crazy. I might even venture out today. I will of course be scooping poop. That is what I do after all.