This topic is about the experience of meeting another person who also has an ostomy, sharing personal stories, and offering support to each other. The poster met someone named Daniel for lunch, and it was a meaningful encounter as they both have gone through similar health challenges. They talked about their experiences with chemotherapy, surgeries, and living with their stomas, which they affectionately named "Tommy" and "Herb." They found comfort in discussing specific issues like pancaking and are looking forward to meeting again.

Here are some helpful insights and advice from their discussion:

1. Visualization and mental imagery can be powerful tools. Creating a vivid mental "movie" of battling cancer can help manage the physical and mental challenges of treatment. This technique has been beneficial for the poster even 20 years after therapy, and it might be helpful for others too.

2. Connecting with other ostomates, whether in person or online, can provide emotional support and understanding. Sharing experiences with someone who truly understands can be comforting, especially when discussing specific issues like pancaking that others might not understand.

3. Keeping in touch and offering updates on each other's surgical timelines and recovery can strengthen the sense of community and support. Regularly checking in with each other can be reassuring and helpful.