 |
| Photo Courtesy of karosieben @ Pixabay |
1) Wait Up!! The first thing to know when your "ladies" stage a mutiny (pun intended) is that you will be gifted with many opportunities... to wait. You will wait in rooms for your name to be called. You will wait for appointments to be scheduled. You will wait for bills to come in (and then to stop coming in). You will wait for test results, wait for remission, wait on pins & needles for possible recurrence; and you will inevitably wait with the rest of us for a cure. So hurry up, it's time to wait!
2) Your Boobs WILL be Televised. Okay, not literally. But at some point in the process you will feel like your breasts are public domain. Your girls will be pushed, stuck, squished, drawn on, cut, fried, photographed, sewn, taped, and squished again. You will be naked (from the waist up at least) for the better part of this journey. So don't be coy Roy, this is just the deal. You should also know that everyone's hands are cold all the time.
 |
| Photo Courtesy of The Noun Project |
3) There is no Road Map. Instead, there is a dot-to-dot picture without any numbers that you and your care team will eventually fill in. Maybe you'll draw your spirit animal, or your kid, or your favorite nurse! You will learn quickly that every woman is different, as is every lump. In the beginning it all sounds like crazy talk.
Genetic testing? Is that like the SAT's?
Radiation? They're sending me to space?!
Sentinel node what?
Reconstruction? Like a boob job?!
Hormone therapy?! They're sending my rack to a shrink???
A lot of times, the next step is determined by the last one. Sometimes chemo is first, sometimes last, and sometimes not at all. Before you run out of the room screaming 'IT'S NOT A TUMAHH!', know that there is treasure at the end - YOU!
 |
| Photo Courtesy of marijana1 @ Pixabay |
4) People are Strange. When you come out and reveal your C-word diagnosis, people won't react the way you'd expect. Some will swoop in to save you. Some will back away slowly while avoiding eye contact. Some of the swoopers will fade away as the journey goes on. You will be surprised. You won't be alone. If you feel like you're flying solo, reach out! There are support groups online now that you can attend at home in your pajamas! In my experience, the more people I told the more support I felt. Let people jump in the ring with you. This is a big fight after all.
5) Buttons and Zippers are Friends. With all the shirt-off-gown-on action happening, you may as well make friends with easy fasteners. Some of the procedures you'll endure will limit your arm use anyway. Trust me. Don't put on your favorite hoodie just yet, because you might be taking it off with a pair of scissors.
6) This Is Your Life! Cancer does not define you. You can wear your survivor badge under your clothes if you want to. But you will have to live with checkups, medicine, scars, and more, forever. FOREVER. It's not a bad thing; just a thing I couldn't leave out.
 |
| Photo Courtesy of monsters4sale @ flickr |
7) Celebrate! When you hear those words 'cancer-free' for the first time, that is your authorization to happy dance. You did it! You made it! You beat it! You earned it! Finally. Honor those who lost their battle by celebrating your victory. Get that tattoo. Go on that vacation. Buy those designer shoes if that's your thing. Exhale. Say thank you. Recite your name and date of birth one more time, and proceed to party on my warrior sister.
