#76 - Don't Like Diagnosis Anniversary

Four Years Ago

Today is my 76th day of griping about Covid. It was on this day, 4 years ago, that I began complaining about Cancer.  

Today, this Facebook Memory popped up. It's actually from 3 years ago, but it's a good reminder that someday, we'll be looking back on these worrisome Covid Days. 

2016 and 2020

Four years ago, I was breezing along happily, when I suddenly got my breast cancer diagnosis. It felt like an abrupt intrusion, similar to the invasion of Coronavirus in recent months. 

Covid and Cancer, are both rude, stubborn, powerful and scary. But at least with my cancer, the doctors knew what they were dealing with. There's incredible uncertainty with Covid, but at least we have a world of people who share our worries. 

Sharing With Friends

Hunkering down at home, was something I did a lot of 4 years ago. After the initial jolt of halting plans and canceling travel, I learned to appreciate a slower time. I've always been a cloud watcher. I did a lot more of that, then. I'm enjoying the clouds now.

I also learned to appreciate family and friends. I was touched by the people who reached out to check on me and I've tried to remember that.

Connecting with others has been important for all of us, during these recent months. Back in March, there was a lot of comfort, knowing that we were all in this together. For the first time ever, most of us knew where all our friends and family were. We could text, email or call and know someone would be there. 


Cancer and Covid

I never had to deal with Cancer and Coronavirus concerns at the same time. But many have and do. In April I communicated with a dear friend who had just learned that she had breast cancer. The news broke my heart. 

In early April, she faced her scary news, at a time when elective surgeries were canceled and walking into a doctor's office was considered dangerous. She was also navigating the new world of working from home, while overseeing the online education of her 3 kids. When she looked to me for advice, I was at a loss. How could I begin to understand what she was facing?

Advice?

In early April I sat around in my comfy clothes, just like I did after surgery and chemo days. I tried to think back on what I remembered.

...I thought back to when I first got the news, four years ago.

​My good friend and nurse practitioner, spoke with such a calm voice,

"It's hard to believe right now, but this really will just be a bump in the road..."

I remember thinking that was sort of ridiculous.

​But oh how right she was! 

I was 59 at the time. I was retired and had no young kids to juggle. But 7-9 months seemed like a huge chunk of my time. And those months with surgery and treatments went pretty slowly. But suddenly I was looking back and it was all behind me. 
​

Thinking Back

So thinking back, I realize that period of my life was good. The kids were able to visit and there was no such thing as social distancing. 

I told my friend that you need to be with people (or communicate those) who lift you. It becomes very evident who lifts you and who drags you down. My family... our kids and extended family, lifted me more than I ever could have imagined.

Accept Help
​

Since my friend is very independent and strong, I knew she would need to be reminded about being open, to help and advice. Ignore when you need to, but be thankful that people do care.

We both have strong and caring husbands, but you never know how they will handle their new role. I chuckled as I shared about Don's humor, helping me during my "Big Haircut" and chemo treatments. Luckily Don also knew how to keep things quiet, when I was not in the mood to laugh. It's a tricky job, being a helpful spouse.

I'd like to think that in exactly 1 year, my friend's cancer treatments and all this covid worry, will seem far, far in the past. Maybe we'll both be looking back and even laughing at some of the positive or funny moments that occurred. 


What will be my best memories from Covid 2020? Time will tell.