What did you learn?

Always: Take someone with you to consultations. You can't remember everything!
And, keep asking for second opinions, clinical trials - whatever will keep you moving
forward!
All the treatments listed above will cause changes, please accept that because we cannot 'go back' - going forward is now our path. Friends/family and sites like this become our support group. Best wishes to all

Along the treatment path, you encounter so many people. You never know what any of them is going through at any given moment - so I learned that to extend grace to those who say or do something that feels wrong or hurtful (so many well-intentioned comments which nearly crushed my soul). If cancer gave me a gift, it was to better discern those situations where grace is required but to also walk away from situations/people when needed. It's allowed me to release anger and frustration and maybe extend a hand or kind word where I may have just walked away before. There is a tangible reduction in stress. With that being said, I also use my voice more effectively to advocate for myself and others when something doesn't feel right.

I learned that all my other problems are tiny in comparison. Since cancer I've had some of the biggest challenges of my life and I ended up handling it all with great strength.