Having cancer is like riding a roller coaster with dips, twist and turns you're never ready for minus the fun or adrenalin rush that make it exciting. I think I may have underestimated the ride. I'm entering the next phase of my treatment, chemotherapy. During my final post operation appointment my doctor revealed additional cancer cells were detected and ultimately I'll need chemotherapy and radiation. I was disappointed.

Leading up to that doctor's visit, I was positive and confident that this thing was winding down. My body was continuing to heal from the lumpectomy, reduction and reconstruction surgery. My incisions were still sensitive but my range of motion had improved and my energy was coming back. I was starting to feel like myself. In my mind, I believed that the outward healing was indicative of what was happening inward. I guess I was naïve to underestimate my opponent. I expected the doctor to tell me, "You're wounds are healing just fine, we found no more cancer cells and you're done. We'll see you back in 6 months for a checkup." That's what I wanted to hear but that wasn't my reality. I prayed that I wouldn't have to get chemotherapy because I heard it was harsh on the body. Everyone responds to it differently but it's still a lot to put the body through.
This news meant more work was ahead of me. I had to educate myself on the next level of treatment. I didn't know much about chemotherapy or radiation. Once again I find myself entering uncharted territory. I needed more reinforcement and that required I add to my support system beyond my doctors, friends and family. They have been great but I needed to find people that were going through what I was going through and could relate to how I was feeling. I reached out to a few breast cancer survivors my friends had connected me to. I found safety and resourceful information in groups like Blackdoctor.org https://blackdoctor.org/, the Facebook group Black Women Fighting Surviving Cancer, Foundation for Women's Cancer https://www.cancer.org/, National Breast Cancer Foundation https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/ and Roswell Park's Resource Center https://www.roswellpark.org/. There are numerous groups and organizations to choose from. Finding support groups that you are comfortable with that provide relevant accurate information based on facts is imperative and extremely beneficial. The Facebook groups I've joined provide me with a safe place to ask questions, observe, share and connect with other cancer warriors and survivors. These groups help educate, empower, and equip me with information. Knowledge is power. I've been able to advocate for myself and pose questions to my doctors. The more I understand my diagnosis and recommended treatment, I can be my best advocate. I also provide feedback to my doctors for the things that are working and the things that aren't. When I don't understand I ask questions and I'll keep asking until it makes sense. This may be over the course of several visits because the pieces will come together. There's so much information we can't capture it all in one appointment but ask as it comes to you. Our doctors are our partners in our health care journey. If your health care providers aren't listening to your concerns, willing to answer your questions, give thorough explanations about your prognosis, or providing quality care, I'd suggest a different provider. Expect and demand quality care. If you are an advocate for a cancer patient, I hope this information was useful to you.
Feel free to read my prior post in the "My Breast Cancer Journey" section of my blog for more on my journey. I hope it helps. Let me know what you think.
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