Hi, Mary Louise...this is Oby. You asked, "How does one keep the anxiety down when you know a CA 125 test is coming up?" (Don’t know if I quoted you correctly) All I can share with you is what I did when I found out that my ovarian cancer had come back. I began praying for only one thing...acceptance. Acceptance of whatever happens and whenever it happens.
About 3 months later, I was sitting at home one afternoon watching TV. All of a sudden, I felt as though a piece of very sheer fabric fell over my head and went clean down to my feet. Immediately, I felt as though God had completely embraced me, and He said to me, "Oby, there is nothing to be afraid of. I'm here with you and I'll always be with you." At that very moment I knew that I had gained the 'acceptance' that I'd been praying for, and every since that I have not been afraid.
Not even afraid, when three months after completing my chemo, my cancer came back again. With my oncologist, I had an attitude of, "All right, so what do we do now?"
That was a year ago this past month (August) and I have been taking Topotecan ever since then.
I will be celebrating my 10th AA birthday this coming December 13th. Just one of the 'lessons' that I have learned in AA is that, "God will never give us more than we can handle." I have also learned how to "Let Go and Let God," and how to "Turn it over." It took me 8 years before I was really able to do that, however, it has been a 'saving grace' to me.
Nowadays I feel that God is with me all of the time, and oh, my...what a wonderful, comforting feeling this is. In so many, many ways this whole 'cancer experience' has brought so many blessings into my life! And yes, I have also learned many valuable 'lessons' that I needed to learn...and I continue to learn more every day. After all, isn't that what life is all about? A continuing learning experience.
I have heard over and over and over again, in the support groups that I have been attending over the past 3 years, people saying, "If I didn't have God in my life I don't know how I would get through this." However, just saying that, "I have God in my life," are empty words...unless you have truly placed yourself in God's hands.
So, "Let Go and Let God" take care of the results of those CA 125 tests!
I hope you don't feel as though I've been doing a bit of preaching here. I only wanted to share with you what has been my 'saving grace.'
I love you, my sister, Oby