CancerCompass message board discussion started by Rick1 on 2/11/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20843,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma with Mets in Sept 07 andgiven a few months to live. I was then given Sutent as soon as it becameavailable in Australia (Oct 06). The drug was brilliant for 6 months andthen the tumours started to grow again. There was nothing furtheravailable - nothing. I have written the story of my journey as I mayhave adopted a different approach to most. I would like to the share theintroduction with you.  "I was diagnosed with cancer (Sept 06) and had a kidney removed within 7days, at that time they said I had 3 months to live, but that meantnothing as I was not in control of what was happening, it was a verytraumatic period with many decisions to be made. I thought it was allunder control, I thought I had it sorted! I will briefly tell my storyand the choices I have made on my road to recovery. I decided that the things I thought that made me ill - my lifestyle,diet, mental attitude and work - needed to be modified if I was to starton the road to recovery. I immediately saw a naturopath and atraditional Chinese medical practitioner and then a psychotherapist. Inaddition I was very lucky as I had a great team work on me at FremantleHospital, so when I left there I was in pretty good physical shape; wellas good as you can be after receiving a 400 mm incision in your abdomenand a kidney removed in a 5 hour procedure! I now look back and I was a mess, but at the time I thought I was incontrol and in good shape. I had regular massages and saw aphysiotherapist all things that made me feel good. There was a group ofpeople around me that were not only interested in me, but had acommitment to my recovery - I was building a team.  I also started to learn Qi Gong which was not only great exercise, butgave me some inner strength and a feeling of control over my body. Just changing my diet I started to feel that I had a little control ofthe situation, I could actually do something positive, and that made ahuge difference to my attitude and my confidence. I read a number ofbooks and the first by Ross Taylor and Dr Ian Brighthope, "CreatingHealth Yourself," given to me by a work colleague. This book wasfantastic. Ross had survived against the odds by taking control of thesituation. I was reminded of how Lance Armstrong had taken control ofhis treatment and his enormous will to survive. I was amazed at hisstrength, talent, single mindedness and his sheer determination - andthen he won the Tour de France! Reading the book back in 2002 brought meto tears. I also thought of a former colleague who had been diagnosedwith breast cancer in 2003 and her life really didn't miss a beat.Pauline took the treatment on board raised her family and carried onworking. I thought to myself "how could she do this, she is so positiveyet she is going to die."My mother, brother and sister had all been taken by cancer and passedaway relatively quickly and painfully. I had been resigned that this wasgoing to happen to me.  When you are tapped on the shoulder with cancer, family and friendssoon come to mind for us all and I was no different. I ached that myfamily would be upset, distressed and affected - physically, mentallyand financially. To cap it all off I was terrified of dying. However, myfear of death was overcome surprisingly quickly with the assistance ofmy psychotherapist. The support of my family and friends and I told themall immediately - wife and three adult children, all my friends and workcolleagues - so that they could give me moral and physical support assoon as possible. They have been a huge part of my journey to recovery. I appreciate that we all adopt different paths when we learn that wehave cancer. I respect the disease and recognise that it is stillpresent in my body and that I am working with it to get better. Thechances of it 'going away' are extremely remote, so let's work togetheris my philosophy. A tumour can be a self contained fully functionalunit, almost an organ, as it has its own blood supply and energy to drawon, to prosper and grow. To defeat such a formidable opponent requires afair amount of collaboration. So I don't hate my cancer, I respect it,as I expect to live with it for a very long time! My 'team' made the difference, giving me their expertise and commitment,giving me great alternative viewpoints. Not just therapies or drugs, buttheir thoughts and lots of positive discussion about how they believedthat I could recover. The people in my team - the western doctors, thecomplementary clinicians, my family, friends, work colleagues throughtheir encouragement and commitment to me, stated or otherwise,  gave methe strength and confidence to continue to be positive and take positiveactions. There was a wave of positive energy flowing over me from allthese great people! I feel good, so I am confident that I can make adecent level of recovery and so that's where I am now.  It has been a great journey, scary and damn frightening at times, butvery rewarding as well. I expect a lot more and with continuing supportI just reckon that I will get more, why not!  Each case is very personal, each case is unique, but we all have choicesand pathways and these are mine." Rick1 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT