When I finished my treatment for breast cancer more than 20 years ago, there was no information on psychosocial issues related to healing. I sensed that reducing stress was really important for healing. Now there is actually research that says stress reduction can impact recurrence for women with breast cancer. What have you done to reduce stress in your life and do you feel it has made a difference? Let us know, and read about stress and recurrence in the winter issue of CURE.

It is fortunate that this article was "resurrected" so I had opportunity to view it...ironically, while I am in the middle of a 3 day self imposed "hiatus" from the demands of daily life. For me this issue takes on new meaning...as I will potentially "never" be finished with treatment. My cancer is a "non curable" rare GI type and requires continuous oral chemo. Going on 4 years of dealing with this, I have progressed past the approved treatments and am now in clinical trials, having achieved stability once again for the last year on the latest experimental drug. However, it looks like that may be ending, with possible progression being seen again on CT Scan. I am a 44 year old wife/mother/grandmother. Just this week I took a full time medical leave as it's just been too much trying to do it all. And with all the research I have seen on the negative effects of stress....none too soon. But leaving the job I love, is in itself very stressful. So, I am needing to develop new and improved ways of coping. My ability ebbs and flows...and I have certainly not given it the effort I need to...it is a matter of life and death. Are there studies that talk specifically about the issues surrounding living with cancer as a chronic disease when "remission" or "cure" is not part of the discussion? Thanks.

Hello there,
Your query gets to the real bottom of the difficulty of living with cancer. What has helped me the most is personal stories so I'll tell you what I do.
I dropped living for the future and I don't dwell in the past. I fill my present moments (as much as possible) with things that make me feel good. In my case, I love the sea, the beach. So each day I have a long walk by the sea, a cup of coffee at the cafe there, I write and I garden. When fear comes up, I pay attention to my breath as it comes into the nostrils and as it passes out for a bit, until fear subsides. Feel my body in the chair and go weed the garden.
What I've discovered is that as I live each moment, right now, there's a richness in living itself that is a blessing. All of my best to you, L