Blog

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.