tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377218771506051065.post2009822014446256228..comments2023-10-21T03:26:14.989-05:00Comments on Appendix Cancer Survivor's Blog: RelationshipsCarolyn Langlie-Lesnik RN BSN MSNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809251183587926473noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377218771506051065.post-15053542888011205892008-03-15T12:04:00.000-05:002008-03-15T12:04:00.000-05:00Hi Graham!Congrats on your almost 2 years! I agre...Hi Graham!<BR/><BR/>Congrats on your almost 2 years! I agree with you, I appreciated the prayers, and the people who have been the most help to me on a personal level are other cancer survivors. We understand each other and have many of the same perspectives and all belong to a common new culture, in a sense. I always feel understood and part of a kind of new family when I am around other cancer survivors. <BR/><BR/>I'm glad you are doing so well! Stay in touch! You are a very inspiring person.<BR/><BR/>CarolynCarolyn Langlie-Lesnik RN BSN MSNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16809251183587926473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4377218771506051065.post-39090217943250433522008-03-15T10:47:00.000-05:002008-03-15T10:47:00.000-05:00As another PMP survivor, I can identify with a gre...As another PMP survivor, I can identify with a great deal that you say, Carolyn. Looking back on the start of my diagnosis, I first felt that I wanted to keep it to myself, but I told my close family and a few friends, who kept saying things such as “Well, it’s probably just a tumour and not malignant”. But my (correct) guess was that it probably was cancer – which was only confirmed 100% after surgery. At that point I felt the need to tell everybody about it. Then I was overwhelmed with much-needed support. Most of all I appreciated friends who were long-term cancer survivors and those who offered their prayers.<BR/><BR/>I am a robust person, but I surprised myself by my calm reaction to being a told I had cancer. Initially, my wife and I were told that I probably had only months to live. We both reacted in much the same way. “I’ll prove you wrong” was my reaction to this prognosis, and my wife began to search the Web (finding your site among many others) for case studies that promised a more optimistic outcome, and then things did not look so bad.<BR/><BR/>My oncologist has always been quite upbeat about my future, and the consultant surgeon who now keeps an eye on me is constantly reassuring. Two years ago this month I had surgery. Today I feel fitter than I have done for many years. My golf handicap has even improved and I went to Austria for two weeks in January, where I surprised myself at my improved skiing skills. <BR/><BR/>I occasionally wonder how long I have to go, but most of the time I just put my disease out of my mind. As for relationships with my friends and family, I can only say that they are better than ever.<BR/><BR/>One thing I don’t have to worry about here in the UK is medical bills. Our national health service is sometimes creaky, but so far I have not had to spend one penny on my treatment – and I am lucky to live just 30 miles from one of the two excellent PMP specialist hospitals in the UK. As a pensioner (I am approaching 66) I have not lost income either. I have a generous pension from my last employer, topped up by a private pension and the UK state pension – and pensions just get paid whatever your circumstances.<BR/><BR/>My full story is here:<BR/>http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/pmpsurvivor.htmGraham Davieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15782751150452768910noreply@blogger.com