Riding the Myeloma Roller Coaster Part 2: Patient Tips on How to Cope

11. Serve Others

• Debi: It was and is very important to me to try and do something everyday to make a difference in someone's life. To make my survival mean something. I post inspirational quotes everyday on my FB feed and I work / teaching part time at my local high school and I co sponsor a club for students there. It is a bit of a struggle for me but it gives my life meaning.
• Jenny: Helping other myeloma patients by sharing information that could improve their outcomes is one of the most rewarding parts of running the Myeloma Crowd. I've found great joy in service.

12. Carry On and Stay Positive

• Anne: By living like I am not dying. I make plans and travel reservations in advance. People say what if you don't feel good and can't go. I say so I don't go, It's that simple.
• Patti:  I think we are in denial. We tidied up our finances at first and prepared for the worst. It didn't happen so we went on with our lives but the fear is under the surface. We ignore it. I'm not sure if that is a good tactic or not but for now it is just a normal life.
• Kathy: I totally agree. No one can relate unless you walk in the shoes or down the same road. Keep up the fight!! Take one day at a time.
• Cheryl: I love everyone I've met in this group, but I haven't let cancer get me down. Someone has always been able to answer my questions. When the doctor diagnosed me I asked him what his game plan was. I've stayed positive, gone to work, volunteered at the animal shelter....all the things I did before the diagnosis.  You have two choices....live with it or die from it...I chose the first. No one on earth knows if they'll be on earth tomorrow. I don't dwell on the "what ifs" and I feel great.
• Kathy: Sometimes denial! We use to travel and so we made a date for dinner or lunch around the doctor apts.
• Brenda:  We must think positively. When my oncologist answered my question with "it is incurable" I felt my heart drop to my feet. I have been through a lot emotionally for most of my adult life and have become very strong. I felt sorry for myself for the rest of the day after receiving the news and the next morning when I woke up I vowed to fight to the bitter end and to maintain a positive attitude. I called my 2x weekly trips to The Cancer Center "slamming it" visits. I call my red scars (from the subcutaneous shots) my "slam it scars".  I believe that knowing you are doing everything for your body that you can do is part of the positive emotion of fighting disease. I evaluated my diet and cut out all alcohol and junk food. No more fast food. No more sugar. I started eating lots of fresh greens and other veggies and cut back on meat, eating it only a couple of times a week. I avoided gluten and did my best to eat non-GMO foods and organic. I also started drinking 32 oz of water each day because my oncology nurse said it helps wash toxins out of your body. I am still eating healthy and drinking all that water. I was in remission 7 months after being diagnosed in Stage III. That may have been pure luck, but I want to think that positive thinking and taking charge of what goes into my body was a big help to the Velcade and Dex treatment.
• Janet: I for one do not think there is a special formula for how one handles a diagnosis of a terminal cancer. All I can tell you is how I did and continue to do so. The first three months was my adjustment stage, I had to take an antidepressant, not for depression but for sadness. I finally came to the realization that everyone was dying as soon as you're born. I continued to work as a Critical Care Nurse, had chemo 2x week then a stem cell transplant, followed by 2 more months of Chemo. I had to give up my profession due to my compromised immune system and grieved the loss of my profession. I continue to stay positive, involved with many organizations, an Ambassador for Patients and families, started a Support Group for Multiple Myeloma and a guest speaker in my community for awareness. Stay informed, do your research, get involved. That is my advice.
• Kathy: I take each day one at a time. I cry, get angry, question why me, and then I go on! I pray every morning for myself and others fighting this disease. Cards in the mail, phone calls from friends, and visits from my kids and grandkids make days bearable. I stay positive and keep a smile on my face.
• Amanda: Looking at my children and knowing when he's gone he will live thru them. He's going to miss teaching them to drive, periods, proms, college, weddings, grandkids but i know the sparkle of his eye will be in each of their souls.
• Lisa: Pray, work, spend great times with family and friends,don't dwell on it ,fight it . Have great doctor and staff to depend on.cry when you need to and get on with it!