Tricia, Post Author
When you are diagnosed with cancer, one of the first things you do is to try learn everything you possibly can about the heart-wrenching news you have received. You have so many questions and you want the answers to all of those questions NOW.
What is a fine needle aspiration and core biopsy? How much does it hurt (needle = pain!)? How is a biopsy performed? Will they use anesthesia? What is pathology and what do all the results mean? What does Stage 2B mean? What is a lymph node? How do cancer cells grow and more importantly, how do I stop them? Did I cause the cancer? What is a lumpectomy? If I have surgery, will it get all of the cancer? Will I need chemo? If I do, will I be sick or lose my hair? What is radiation? What is a port? Does it hurt when it is installed in your chest? How is blood drawn from a port? What?? There is a needle in your vein??
Then you start asking the even harder questions of yourself. WHY ME? I have been kind, generous, loving and joyful. I am a good wife, mom and friend. I have dreams to finish. I want to see who my children will become. I want to see them graduate, go to college, marry, raise a family, and experience the joy of grandchildren. I want to retire with my husband, travel, spend time together after raising a family. Will I die before my dreams come true? Do I need to write down the “Bucket List” and start crossing things off TODAY? Why did I wait to do the things that I always said I was going to do?
Cancer gives you more questions than answers. My oncologist nurse, Tammy, gave me the best advice. Tammy said to enjoy the things that I can, when I can and to take it ONE DAY AT A TIME. She told me to not get ahead of myself or to insist that I know all of the answers immediately. Pray, meditate, laugh, cry, research carefully, talk, love, hug, but most of all, one step, one day at a time. Learning this helped me at doctor appointments, before and after surgeries, through chemo, radiation, reconstruction and even today, 4 years later as a “survivor”. I always have the fear that my cancer will return but I don’t allow that fear to overwhelm me. I accept that it will always be with me but I take it one day at a time, enjoying my life with my husband, my children as they grow, marry and bless us with grandchildren!
One day at a time.
