I was warned early on by an MD Anderson "nurse navigator". She told me to get good filtering earplugs, for all the info I would receive from friends and strangers. "Don't let it frustrate you. Remember people share, because they are trying to help."
I tried to remember her advice when I sat in the waiting room, before meeting my oncologist for the first time. Don and I chatted together and felt fairly at ease. But the woman, wearing a wig across from us kept smiling over. A couple of times, her cell phone flashed and she appeared to be taking pictures me. (For her scrapbook of chemo friends?) Then she intruded with a mothering smile. "First time?" "Yes." "You'll be just fine." She insisted. Then she and her husband began telling the story of when she and the family gathered around to cut off all her hair. "It was the only time I cried." She just couldn't stop smiling. "It starts falling out after 14 days..." I remembered the nurse and I wasn't annoyed. But if it had been a touchy day, I might have had to let her know, "You're freaking me out!" But I met Dr. P and he was absolutely wonderful. He used a dry erase board to explain things. He encouraged me to take my time, when I had to hunt for my glasses to take notes. He was hopeful, that my lab scores could put me at a low recurrence rate and I might not need chemo. But he also made me feel at ease knowing if I do, he will be there along the way. The sweet woman tried to ease my worries. But the doctor did a better job.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Not-So-Happy List
Cancer, Covid & Coronary... I started this complaining list/blog, in May 2016. I posted 200 gripes about my breast CANCER and then I was done. On March 13, 2020, I started venting all over again, when another disease (starting with a C) interfered with my life. This time it was the invasion of COVID and it affected every person. I ranted for a year, until I got my COVID vaccine in March 2021. CORONARY Artery Disease was the reason I restarted this blog on September 26, 2021. This time it was my hubby Don, who was dealing with a worry that started with the letter "C". Coronavirus and Cancer, Coronary Artery Disease! All are evil, but none can totally get me down... if I vent! I usually end up feeling a little more positive at the end of each post! Navigating This Mess! The most recent post is at the top, from coronary posts in 2022, back to cancer posts in 2016. To find past posts, look below the "Archives" section, to find "Categories". Archives
January 2022
Categories
All
|