I've worked in oncology and palliative care as well as nursing my own father at home with lung cancer and provided support to my brothers family as they nursed his wife who had endometrial cancer. It can help but it can also make us a bit pessimistic as we don't work with the ones that do make it.
When undergoing my chemo and seeing how short staff they were I considered returning to the field. However once in the middle of treatment I realised once my journey is through I well might want to just forget all about it. So I have scrapped that idea. It's all a bit raw. I'm back working in my current field of mental health and feel working with people trying to find happiness in adversity truly helps me.
No matter what our experience, positive or negative, we all have days where we think we'll die from this disease and days when we are sure we will beat it. It's all normal. I say let the emotions roll. Acknowledge that we do have fear and doubts...and that's okay. It's only when we get caught in the fear and when we can only feel frightened or sad constantly that we need assistance. Then talking with somebody outside the family can help. We often feel we can't let our loved ones know how scared we are, putting on the brave face doesn't change how we feel inside. It just makes others feel comfortable. So yes have a cry. Rest and retreat as needed and positivity hopefully will return. Kath x
