June 1, 2021
By Anne Dabbs,
NCAN TN Chapter Leader, NET Patient
Numbers can have a grip on our lives, and frequently, our minds. Speed limits, gas prices, GPA’s, anniversaries. We count and tabulate numbers many times a day. I still remember a dozen or more childhood phone numbers. The numbers on a bathroom scale can haunt me for days. Last week I did some of my best counting ever as I sang a lullaby to our grandson.
“Two plus two is four.
Four plus four is eight.
Eight and eight are sixteen.
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two”
I quickly lost track of how many times I sang this slow melodic chorus before he fell asleep.
When I was newly diagnosed with Neuroendocrine cancer, counting took up a lot of time and space in my head. My emotions rose and plummeted with my monthly lab work. A slight nudge in either direction could cause angst or celebration. I charted those numbers like the statistician I could have been. My weight fluctuated all over the place and the countdown to scans was nerve wracking. I have thankfully mellowed these past five years. I finally understand that, for me, my NETs journey truly is a marathon, not a sprint. My current state has become comfortable enough for me that I no longer stress out over singular lab work numbers or slight hiccups in my care.
I have learned to set my sights on the old adage, “Don’t count your days, Make your days count”. I try to embrace each day for what it has to offer me. Some days are more productive than others. Some are more creative and social than most. Some days I simply must be a couch potato. But each day has the potential to be enjoyed. And, if we can release our minds from the tally of our days, we will find the ways to make each day count.
If we can help in anyway, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can count on us.
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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.
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