Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!   I would like as many of us as possible to come together as an appendix cancer community.  It’s hard to find someone else who knows what we go through as our cancer is so rare. While I feel for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, I do admit to sometimes feeling resentful at the amount of support and research money breast cancer receives.  There are more breast cancer support groups and fundraisers than anyone can count.  I I had  a sister-in-law who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she lived many years with Stage IV breast cancer, there was always one more new chemotherapy or treatment that had been discovered through research that prolonged her life. The disease did take her almost a year ago though. I had a bit of survivor guilt, as when I was diagnosed, I wished so much that I’d had breast cancer instead.  The outcomes statistically were so much better than for my signet ring appendix cancer, and I knew much more research and support were devoted to that cancer.   But in the end I survived my cancer, and she didn’t.

I hope those of you reading those will consider joining the forums I now have on this site and commenting on the blog, it can serve as a support group where we can communicate with and reach out to each other.  We won’t find appendix cancer support groups in our community as our cancer is so rare.  There is security required to signing up on the forums, which is kind of a hassle, but I think that’s a good thing.  I had a forum with a previous web site that ended up being spammed so much it was hard to use, I don’t think this one will be.  And I promise to participate in the forums and to moderate them, you won’t be alone!

I’m making it a New Year’s resolution to be more involved in this website with it’s blog and forums, I started a new job about 2 years ago that kind of over-whelmed me, but I am working on balance now.  I want us to be here for each other.

Again, Happy Holidays!  I will be here!