I have been reading the threads re the pros/cons and positives/negatives of having chemo and have decided to put my spin on it. When I was diagnosed Dec '07 quite a few people told me that it was important to remain positive - a phrase which really baffled me at the time. What does remain positive mean exactly, I thought. Remain upbeat, remain cheerful - wasn’t that putting on a front - being something you’re not - well, not all of the time anyway ! In the end, I decided that whenever someone said that I should remain positive - to replace the word “positive” with “hopeful”. Thus, the sentence takes on a completely different meaning and one which I can relate to more. After all, as humans, remaining hopeful is what differentiates us and even in the most desparate of circumstances, there usually remains a flicker of hope. Jacqui
What very true words Jacqui…hopeful is what we all are.
karen x
Well said Jacqui!
Hmm, when I first read your post, Jacqui, I thought yes, very true. But then I thought - hopeful? Hopeful of what? Hopeful that I’d wake up tomorrow and it’s all gone away? So sorry, I’m sticking with positive. It works for me. This cancer is killing me. They gave me two years and that was two and a half years ago. I’ve been positive all along and here I am today, walking without a stick, no painkillers needed now except the odd paracetamol but that’s usually for a hangover (naughty, I know but what the hell), not on any treatment and only needing to see the onc every three months.
I know the time will come when I deteriorate again but in the meantime I’m remaining positive 
Good luck to us all.
xx