Monthly Archives: June 2015

06/29/15
Maxim to Vikings

The Big C, Take 2 – Mental Help

Mental Help Required

Once the cancer was gone, how could I remove it from my mind?

Cancer as Business

The cancer agency is an all encompassing body which decides each step for a patient.  There’s usually a flurry of activity and then you wait until there’s a spot for you.  Apparently cancer is a huge business.  I was informed that the local cancer agency made about $200,000 off my treatment.   None of which went into patient well-being that I could see. All services that helped patients deal with the mental onslaught of cancer were provided by volunteers.

And onslaught it is.  There were times I felt bullied by the medical staff, made to feel afraid.  Afraid of making my own decisions about how may body was going to be treated.  Afraid of going against what the doctors recommended.  I was made to feel that if I went against the norm, I was doing so at my own peril.   Continue reading →

06/23/15
Microwave

The Big C, Take 2 – Prepping for Radiation

The next steps of my cancer treatments

Hurry up and wait, again.

Once the operation was over, I was foisted back onto the cancer waiting list.  This time it was for radiation treatments.

The Radiation Oncologist

When the cancer mill starting turning again for me, my first appointment was meeting the radiation oncologist, Dr. C.  She was going to determine how long and how much radiation my poor breast would receive.  I had read in the literature that additional treatments in the form of  supplements may also be required.  I had decided that I was not going to take any chemical substances, some of which had brutal side effects.  I was going to try a more natural approach.  I noted it on the forms I filled in for Dr. C. Continue reading →

06/15/15
Surgeon

The Big C, Take 2 – The Cancer Operation

Big C, Take 2 – Cancer Round 2

The Cancer Operation

Stops Four and Five

After the Big C diagnosis, I moved into the no man’s land where time is not your own.  It’s like being a child again and having mom and dad scheduling your day.  The difference is you’re not being scheduled for fun stuff.

Stop 4 – The Operation

Continue reading →

06/8/15

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday!

And what a glorious day it is.  I love birthdays and I love celebrating them.  I just don’t understand people who don’t.

The weather on the damp coast is uncharacteristically sunny and warm.  The birds are singing, the neighbours chickens are clucking.

The beautiful weather means that the strawberries, my favourite, are ready 2 weeks early and are beautifully red and sweet.  And I can walk to a new boulangerie in my neighbourhood for a fresh croissant.

Does it get better than this?!?!?  (Cue the happy dance!)

Continue reading →

06/2/15
Hurry up and wait

Big C, Take 2 – Hurry up and wait

Big C, Take 2 – Cancer Round 2

Stops One to Three

After the initial shock of the Big C, take 2 diagnosis, I moved into the no man’s land where time is not your own.  It’s cancer land.  Now doctors and receptionists decided where and when my appointments will be taking place.  It’s the hurry up and wait phase of the breast cancer journey.  I hate that phrase “breast cancer journey”, but it makes for nice titles. Continue reading →