33 - I Don't Like TMI

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.