I've posted this question "When Cancer Strikes, Is There Hope?"  to a discussion at Blogcatalog.  The answers I got were really interesting, touching and even inspiring. See what you think:

"yes, there is always hope, my mom is on her second bout, first bout was breast cancer, stage 4 it's in a pseudo remission, as in it's still there, and is being controlled, had six months of the most aggressive chemo she could get,,,,,,this time it's liver cancer, stage 1 so it is not as bad, but the treatment is much harder on her" - kat822

"Nowadays, there's lots of hope--I'm amazed at how many people I know have come survived cancer in the past decade or so." - drjay1966

Hope is expectation moderated by realization that nothing is certain. Hope is a belief that a positive outcome related to negative events and circumstances in one's life is possible." - timethief

"I have hope every day. And pray that it doesn't come back." - recyclecindy

"Depends on the type of cancer, and how early detected, also. And sometimes, just luck." - CrotchetyOldMan

"as long as you still breathing, there is always HOPE...." - micro27

"Depends on a lot of things: type of cancer, location, stage, etc. A small skin cancer, discovered early, is more amenable to recovery than a deep brain tumor at a late state. My father has had prostate cancer for pro
bably ten years. It is inoperable, but very slow spreading and he goes for chemo once a month, so it is controlled. His doctor says that old age will kill him (he's 81) before the cancer does. So, the answer is...it depends." - SweetViolet

"When cancer strikes and you survive. There is hope yes, but you may require lifestyle changes. A healthy diet for one. If you enjoyed food high in fat and a lot of carbohydrate for example, you will find yourself limiting these for lots of vegetables and fruit. If you smoke you will have to quit. You will have to avoid second hand smoke. Your job may predispose you to risks of other cancers.
These changes are actually not difficult especially with support. Self help is important." - goshopper1

"Cancer or no cancer, what we can count on is certain death." -morgantj

"Just make sure you don't lay down and prepare for death. Fight it, Get stronger and if those things don't work steal someones body and transfer your brain." -Kryptonitemare

"Cancer has so many forms and they are all awful but there is always some kind of hope, the medics are so much better equipped to fight it now. And positive thinking goes a long way. I don't always agree with the info churned out about diet etc. Although obviously it has an impact many people get ill through no fault of what they ate or drank. I think people often get blamed for something beyond their control. Disease and illness are caused by genetic factors and environmental factors too." - myriadlife

And if you wanna ask me what I think, well, as long as we're still alive, there is always hope. I do believe postitive thinking gives postive results. :) How about you?