Surviving Cancer

Here I am. Use me for good. Give me the Knowledge. To do what I should. My experience. My journey. My cancer story. Others could use it. Let us praise Your glory. This battle I faced. It can’t be for nothing. A reason for fighting. A reason to win. The reason for my writing. I write to inspire. I write to be known. I write so others know. How to fight on their own. It’s a difficult battle. A difficult way. A life to worship. I’m here to stay. Don’t give up. Never give in. Your’re never alone. Let your life begin.

Things are changing. I don’t have treatments but it seems my life, right now, still revolves around cancer. I started a new hormone blocking medication after my hysterectomy in July. I wasn’t having any bad side effects right away, but by early September, I started having severe joint and bone pain, daily headaches, fatigue, and more intense hot flashes. I have been working with my oncologist since then to come up with a solution to these issues. I quit taking my new hormone blocker for two weeks, as prescribed by my oncologist, to see if any of the symptoms would dissipate or go away. Unfortunately, my symptoms did not improve. I was then prescribed a new hormone blocking medication to try. This medication is a “sister” to the medication I was most recently on. So there was a decent chance I would experience the same, unwanted symptoms. I then went off that medication, my headaches were still showing up on the daily. Finally, my oncologist suggested we rule out any major brain abnormality, so I had a brain MRI. Those results came back normal.

Obviously, those results were amazing to receive, but I still did not have answers. We are now talking about changing all the medications I am on. This has yet to happen. I am working on being a better advocate for myself. I am in pain, on the daily. I feel like an 80 year old woman (no offense to older folks), but I can’t sit down, lay down, or stand for longer periods of time without getting stiff and achy and in pain. I also have circulating pain that comes and goes, shooting and tingling all throughout my body. I am going to make sure I advocate for myself and get my doctors to take me seriously to figure out what is wrong.

I recently started working again. It is very part time. I work Monday’s and Friday’s as a Patient Care Technician in the infusion center where I had my chemo treatments. I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to give back. I obviously really enjoy being on the working side of the infusion center, rather than the patient side. It is humbling to know that I have experienced both sides and can relate to both sides. I don’t wish that on anyone, but I feel amazingly blessed to have found this job.

It’s been difficult with the amount of joint pain I have, and increased hot flashes because I am on the move at all times. I push through, though. It’s fast paced, and I love it. I grab patients from the waiting area, take vitals, bring them to their chair or room. I set them up with snacks or drinks and a warm blanket if they so choose. I also assist the nurses in any way I can. Most importantly, I get all the chemo medications from the pharmacy window and bring them to the proper nurse that is working with each patient. I stock linens, nursing supplies, snacks and drinks. Anything the nurses need, I am their girl.

It feels so good to be moving forward from cancer and getting out the house to do something good. For the past year and half or so my life has been focused, solely on cancer, my cancer. Now, I have a job, my husband has a job and is going to school. Finally, moving forward and looking to the future. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me next.