Category Archives: The Big C

My experiences with cancer

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 →

06/2/15
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 →

05/11/15
Pink Ribbon

The Big C, Take 2 – The First “C” Days

The Big C – My Round 2 with cancer

The First “C” Days

Cancer has entered my life, twice.  The second time with cancer was very traumatic.  I explored many avenues to heal myself,  both mentally and physically.  I wanted to make sure that my second round with cancer would be the final one.

My naturopath told me that my lung meridian was holding an enormous amount of sadness.  Unloading the sadness would elevate my body to the next healthier level.  He thought it could be related to my second go round with the big C, breast cancer.

So, with wasband now history, and myself moving into a more positive phase in life, it would be worth unloading some more baggage.  It is time to write about my big C, take 2. Continue reading →

04/28/15
Pink Ribbon

The Big C – Take 2

The Big C – Second Time Around

Some things are not good the second time around.  Cancer is one of them.

April, on the Damp Coast, is cancer month.  So for the whole month of April there are events, fund raisers, people begging for money on behalf of all things related to cancer.  For me, it’s very irritating.  I understand the need for people to try to do something about a disease that makes people feel completely helpless.  But my experience is that it seems all the money collected doesn’t always make it down to the patient level.

I’ve had cancer twice.

Continue reading →