BridgetO Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Hi everybody, I'd appreciate some input from any of you about your experiences post NED. I had a lobectomy in November of 2016 and was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma Stage 1A, no further treatment required at this time. My 6 month CT showed NED--yay! I'm retired from full time work and I left my most recent part time job when I was having diagnostic work for this cancer. Since my recovery from surgery, I've had the opportunity to take quite a few short trips. I'm recently back from the last one. I have nothing new scheduled. I was looking forward to down time to do some long-postponed tasks as well as some fun things (craft projects, time with friends)I've been looking forward to. But now I'm feeling a little depressed and unmotivated. My spouse suggested that I'm having post-treatment, post-travel blues. This sounds right to me. The question is "now what? " This didn't happen as much with my two previous non-lung cancers, because I was offered part time work as soon as I was recovered from treatment . (for one of these, recovery was pretty long). I really don't want to go back to work now. I love having free time and flexibility. None of the things I've been looking forward to has the internal momentum of a work schedule or an upcoming trip.THe issue is how to get out of this slump and off my backside. I didn't go through this treatment just to become a couch potato. I also feel like I'm whining, when in reality I'm grateful for my cancer being detected so early and for being NED. Has anybody had a similar experience? Suggestions appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Bridget, Absolutely, positively the slump happened to me. Here is my RX. Start your day with this for thirty days. Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said: "To live is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in suffering." Contemplating those words and recalling the mayhem during the treatment-NED-treatment path suggests that I'm responsible for figuring out life after diagnosis. If I want to survive, I need to find a meaningful life despite suffering. There were so many impediments to overcome and considering them all at once was daunting. I learned if I could mentally line them up, and pick them off one-at-a-time, I could make a life. I also learned no one could give my life back. I needed to rise up and take it back. How? My approach started by listening to the song, believing it was possible, and checking off impediments one-at-a-time. OBTW -- the struggle continues. Stay the course. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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