I Was Sideswiped

You hear the dreaded words, “you have cancer” and the world stops. You cannot catch your breath. You are waiting to awaken from the nightmare. This declaration is followed by the seemingly distant drone of a physician’s voice, quoting statistics, chemotherapy, radiation and surgery plans. A vocabulary you never heard before. You immediately feel you have to start googling for information. You leave the office with paperwork, requisitions for lab test ands and a series of imaging appointments. You do not recall how you got home. Perhaps it was not such a shock. After all, you mother, your sister, your aunts and cousins have all had cancer. It was a matter of time. But somewhere in the back of your mind, you always thought you would be spared. Perhaps the timebomb was ticking. You already knew you carried a gene mutation.

If this resonates with you, know you are not alone. Make sure to find support where you can and don’t be shy to ask. There are support groups, some specific to particular age groups, therapists who are specialized in cancer support, concierge services that can help guide you, advocate, support and prepare you for appointment, alternative therapies such as music, yoga, massage, meditation and more that can take the edge off while you are navigating this new journey. Explore them and find what works for you.