Day 28 – My Healing Journey

I woke up the morning after my final radiation treatment and felt very strange.  I was so used to having to be at the clinic every single day, so it was odd to think I didn’t have to go anymore.  Still moving very slowly, I was extraordinarily grateful to think that I didn’t have to start the long, arduous process of pulling myself together to go to the clinic.  It felt so good to be able to just relax; it was very liberating and felt so freeing. I still had a long way to go to get my body back into some sort of shape and to regain my strength, especially in my legs.  I was determined to work my way back slowly but surely and to get back to my normal work routine.

The next step in my treatment plan involved taking a hormone blocker medication for the next 5 years.  Since I was still not feeling that great and was still very weak, I really didn’t want to add any other side effects so I told my oncologist that I wanted to wait a month before starting on the drug.  Hoping that a month would buy me some much needed rest and relaxation, she agreed to letting me wait.

The other protocol was to have a mammogram and an ultra sound every 6 months as a follow up and a CT scan after a year.  The idea of a mammogram squishing my breast was less than enticing, especially since it was still very sore and tender after the surgery.  By this time, 9 months had gone by so I would have thought that it would feel better than it did.  Nonetheless, I had to brace myself for the mammogram.  Thankfully the technician was patient and understanding. 

After all my experiences during the nine month period of time that had passed, I would like to recap my suggestions and concerns for anyone facing a similar diagnosis or situation.

1.  Be your own advocate at all times.  If something doesn’t set right with you or sound right, be sure to bring it up with your doctor.
2. Always do your own research in addition to what you are told, or in my case, was NOT told.
3. Don’t take anyone’s word for anything, check it out because often they are just following basic protocol that doesn’t always apply to everyone.
4. Ask alot of questions even if you have to do it over and over again until you are satisfied with the answer.
5. Don’t feel like your questions might be stupid; there are NO stupid questions.  Every question deserves an answer.
6. Since most oncologists have associates due to their busy schedules, chances are you will see the associates from time to time.  Always make sure that all of you are on the same page with regard to your needs, your treatments and any modifications to your specific treatment plan.
7. Always make sure you have the correct phone number for after hours treatment; this is essential.  Be sure to try the number just to make sure there are no issues.
8. There are many options for integrative medicine that can enhance traditional cancer treatments; some oncologists are open to discussing them with their patients, some are not.  If you are convicted in your desires for those kinds of treatments, do your research and be sure to choose an oncologist who is open to it.  You don’t need to feel like you are fighting your doctor every step of the way with differing opinions and expectations.
9. Every cancer patient has their own story to tell about their experiences whether good or bad.  Don’t let anyone tell you how you should address your own situation; do your research and decide for yourself how best to handle it.
10. Research, research, research…I can’t say this enough.  I thought I had researched the subject to death before I ever started my treatments.  What I realized is that I had over researched some areas such as nutrition, alternative holistic options, the latest research etc, but what I found out was that I under researched the very important area of side effect prevention.  Arm yourself with good information so there will be few to no surprises.
11. Last but not least, have patience with yourself, don’t hold back on your emotions and arm yourself with family, friends and other advocates who can speak for you when you can’t speak for yourself.

I wish the best for anyone facing treatments and I sincerely hope that some or all of my experiences might be able to save others from encountering similar situations.  Knowing what to look for ahead of time, knowing what questions to ask might just prove to be beneficial to even one person.

I would love to hear from others who may have had their own experiences and information to share.  Please feel free to reach out and send us an email with your own story and we can share it on the site.