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Attitude? Attitude!
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Attitude? Attitude!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Attitude? Attitude!

  • Post
    • May 6, 2017 at 11:15 am
    DocPain
    Participant

      Since I was first diagnosed, my underlying attitude has been one of, "This too will pass and I will get on with my life."

      i have friends who have read up on metastatic melanoma and they want to know how I can be positive about it. Perhaps I really don't know better, but I have to laugh and stay upbeat.

      i have another friend whose wife had melanoma and is now NED. He smiles and tells me to keep laughing. It is the best medicine.

      Sometimes it can get tough….

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    • Replies
        • May 6, 2017 at 2:27 pm
        cancersnewnormal
        Participant

          You keep smiling and laughing! My docs NEVER gave me survival times or statistics. I was always given hope and reminded that everyone reacts differently to treatments. The mind set for me is always "What do I need to do to get to the next best thing?". I know there were times that my docs must've been freaking out, but they kept it pretty well hidden. Last week, I had a routine follow up brain MRI with my radiation oncologist. It happened to fall on our 4 year "cancerversary" of my very first consultation appointment with him. 39 brain lesions and 10 rounds of gamma knife… 4 years, and I'm still here. NED, with only two bits of scar tissue we're still keeping tabs on. Visits to see my team have always been like a trip to see second family. Even when rolling through the worst of it, there were jokes and smiles. Sure, there were days that I needed to just crack and break down for a few hours… but mostly… that "I'll get through this" prevailed. There's a great deal less stress in LIVING than there is in being "mentally dead" before there is a real need to be. 

            • May 7, 2017 at 12:31 am
            DocPain
            Participant

              I probably was a bit over the top from the beginnings, but I started off joking with the crew in the treatment suite. We have a pretty good relationship. They must see a lot as well.

            • May 6, 2017 at 5:27 pm
            Ridingaroundwith27Jennifers
            Participant

              It can get tough.  Sometimes just admiting that this is a difficult journey helps.  I've just joined this forum and the support is amazing.  Keep on smiling and when it gets tough we will help you through.

                • May 7, 2017 at 12:32 am
                DocPain
                Participant

                  The support in this forum is INCREDIBLE. So fortunate to be part of this community.

                • May 10, 2017 at 2:22 pm
                MikeW
                Participant

                  This is a great post and the threads are fantastic….I definitely choose the positive. Our lives are forever changed when we get diagnosed but it's the path we chose to live that is under our control. 

                  A had read a solid comment worth repeating….I may have melanoma but it doesn't have me. 

                  You've got the right attitude about laughter, being upbeat and in tough times, reach out for help from your most positive supporters. 

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