Starting school with MBC

Jojo - congratulations on getting to NED, and having new-found energy (funny how that all works, isn't it?). I'm newly-diagnosed Stage IV myself and not doing treatment yet, so I'm doing a lot of reflecting on what to do with my "good" time - those moments when I physically feel good. I've decided to listen to my heart instead of my brain - what makes me happy right now? What have I always wanted to do? What would provide a sense of peace and comfort? I've let those ideas guide me as I make decisions about remodeling my kitchen (doing the work myself feels good, and I told my DH I couldn't die and have people come over to the house with the ugly walls and broken countertops), teaching yoga (I recently stopped teaching, which I love, to instead give me more time to *do* yoga, which I need right now), and taking a new, more challenging position at work (I love a challenge!).

You're far from "crazy" to be thinking about nursing school - it sounds like an exciting experience!! What does your heart tell you? When I read your message I sense that this is important to you and would really feed your soul. And the truth is, you can always start and then stop, if you choose, or take a semester off if you need to. Would you regret not at least trying?

Maybe it's not that easy to decide, I'm sorry if I make it sound that way. I feel like I have limited time to do the things I always said, "maybe tomorrow." My cancer experience has made it clear to me that tomorrow is today, and I don't want to wait much longer to try.

Jojo, congratulations on getting into nursing school and achieving NEAD. Both are very big milestones. I think that only you knows the answer to your question. My motto always is enjoy the moment. So you must decide what will bring you the most joy. My take on what you wrote is, going to school is really important to you cause obviously you applied even knowing you are stage 4. Now, you must be having second thoughts knowing the reality of your diagnosis. But the funny thing is, if you didn't have this diagnosis, you would go on to school not even thinking about when or if something would happen to you. It definitely makes you think about how you want to spend every moment of your time doesn't it. So, back to what I originally said, you must decide how you want to spend your time. I am also from the medical field, I can tell you it is very stressful, but also very rewarding. I am out on disability and am thankful I no longer have that stress in my life. But once again, you must decide what's important to you. I wish you the best. Enjoy the moment

Go for it! If there comes a day when you need to reassess, then reassess at that point. If you live 10 years or more, then I suspect you would look back and regret not doing this.

I started a new job a week into chemo when I was early stage 10 years ago. I got the job offer a few days after diagnosis and assumed I needed to turn it down. Fortunately, I had a colleague who was a godsend and told me to go for it and take the job that was mine. It ended up working much better than I expected and gave me confidence that nothing can stop me and that I can do it. I am still at the company and cannot imagine how things would have played out if I didn't accept the job.

I have been stage 4 for 2.5 years and am starting a new position at work right now - where I will be working at the same company but in a different division with an entirely different set of people and subject matter expertise that I need to learn. I didn't hesitate to accept this position and would have taken an outside job if a great offer would have come along. I do feel a bit nervous about having to take time off when I have to do IV chemo at some point in the future or for whatever other reason mets bring along. In my current position, I have worked so hard and proven myself for so many years, I wouldn't feel the slightest bit uneasy taking time off. One of my life mottos has been to never let fear guide my decisions. I definitely experience fear but just acknowledge it and trudge forward. My new position is a good opportunity for me and something I have wanted for many years. It all just kind of fell into place suddenly at the least expected time. I figure I will face the tough decisions down the road *if* and when they present themselves.

Joellen, you can start school, and it if turns out to be too much, you can drop out. I know that's hard to say and even harder to do, but you're not making a decision that lasts for three years. You're making one for the next few months.

I agree with all the ladies above -- you should do what makes you happy. If being a nurse makes you happy, go for it!

I'm actually going through kind of the same thing. I don't have enough work credits to qualify for disability and with no kids and a husband who works out of town frequently, I don't want to stop working. I have a relatively useless liberal arts BA and have worked in nonprofits but with no real career path. Cancer sparked my passion for science, a field that I NEVER thought I would be interested in or good at when I was younger. Starting from zero as a 32 year old with MBC is daunting and I wasn't sure where to begin but I have decided to get my Associates in lab technology, with the idea of working for a research lab. it's exciting but scary at the same time as I also wonder if I will be able to keep up the energy needed to complete the program...Xeloda has been wiping me out lately

The brain mets don't effect me cognitively. The only symptoms I have are sensory and even those are at this time, few and far between. The location of my mets are as "good" as any brain tumors could be. Thank god for small favors, huh??