October 23, 2019

By Anne Dabbs, 
NCAN TN Chapter Leader, NET Patient

American author and playwrite James Thurber’s words are sound advice for all people, but may have special meaning for those of us living in the world of Neuroendocrine Cancer. Many of our stories as patients and caregivers contain elements of anger and fear. Anger can be intensified during a frustrating diagnosis process or a failed treatment. Perhaps our anger is directed at ourselves for being careless in our self care or a result of frustrations adjusting to new limitations.

Fear, an unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger (real or imagined), is perhaps the most prevalent emotion once we enter our NETS experience. Scananxiety is real and constant for many. Test results, financial concerns, and social challenges are unending. The fear of the unknown or becoming a burden to our loved ones loom persistently. Normal emotions for everyone, but the singular fears accumulate to monstrous fears and become monumental for us. Part of our living well with Neuroendocrine Cancer includes managing these emotions……it is an ongoing process.

James Thurber urges us to look around in Awareness. Can we subdue the anger? Can we lessen the Fear? By tuning in to our self awareness in this new identity can we better learn to cope? As we become more aware of our NET selves, we can focus less on the associated negativity and turn our energies outward.

November 10 is NEUROENDOCRINE CANCER AWARENESS DAY. Many in our community will choose to share this observance via social media. Others will make a monetary donation to a support or resource organization. And hopefully, greater numbers will participate in a community involvement activity.

We can diminish our anger, and reduce the fears by building up awareness for our NETs community. Increased awareness translates to increased clinical trials, increased fundings, better educational opportunities for the medical field and for patients. We owe it to ourselves to step away from the negative and to be drawn to the positivity of Awareness.

Find out more about how YOU can help the NET Community.

Disclaimer: NCAN blog posts are the opinions of its writers and are not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Please consult your Health Care Providers for individual concerns.

October 11, 2019

By Anne Dabbs, 
NCAN TN Chapter Leader, NET Patient

Our NETS community was once again in the national news as the obituary of Ms. Raine Riggs was reported earlier this week.

We at NCAN want to extend our sincere condolences to her family and friends at this sorrowful time. To read Ms Riggs obituary, we are introduced to a young woman who lived her life in service for others. In addition to her myriad of philanthropic endeavors, Ms Riggs’ obituary notice in the “Newsweek”  publication contains more astonishing reporting…a basic and accurate description of Neuroendocrine Cancer which is listed as her cause of death.

Heartbreakingly, the article states that she began feeling severely ill only 3 weeks before being diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer and then dying a mere two days later. Specific details beyond these facts are pure speculation for our NETS community and are most likely too raw for her family to publish at this point. Our community members have been rocked to our core once again, coming to grips with our personal experiences with this bizarre disease. It is a challenge for us to not grasp for more information, and to once again be frustrated by limited details.

As we grieve with the Riggs/Sanders family, we can be comforted by the fact that Ms Riggs’ cause of death was correctly identified as Neuroendocrine Cancer. And in true philanthropic fashion, that is her gift to our community.

Accepting the diagnosis of a rare and incurable cancer is challenging. Talking about it in casual conversation is awkward. Sharing it with the world is admirable. If you are able to share your NETS story in a larger forum, please do so. If you are able to share NETS educational opportunities, please act accordingly. If you are unable to share openly about our disease, please establish a relationship with a NETS organization whose mission is for increased research, education, and advocacy. In honor and recognition of her generous heart and service to those often overlooked, let us be motivated to bring her attitude to our endeavors for increased awareness and additional education.

Find out more about how YOU can help the NET Community.

Disclaimer: NCAN blog posts are the opinions of its writers and are not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Please consult your Health Care Providers for individual concerns.