| Cancer is a big, big part of so many, many lives | | | | confident. I was a different person than the day |
| these days. And as many of those people are | | | | before. |
| currently going through the experience of radiation | | | | It is very important to honor your feelings. I honored |
| therapy, I have decided to write about that | | | | my feelings. How you feel is extremely important. |
| experience, in the hopes that I can be of some | | | | Some people benefit from treatment and some don't. |
| assistance to those going through it. | | | | As with the chemotherapy, I responded very well. I |
| So, I will just say that I do know what I'm talking | | | | took responsibility for how I reacted to the |
| about. Been there, done that. Easy to say now that | | | | treatment. I made up my mind that I could get the |
| it's over. | | | | best possible results from my treatments. How you |
| This experience, for most people is not as extreme | | | | feel makes all the difference. |
| as chemotherapy but it still does take some coming | | | | Sitting in the waiting room in your cute double gown |
| to terms with deciding to go through it. | | | | outfit, you meet other patients waiting for their turn. |
| For me, I remember that I was taking treatments | | | | Attitudes are extreme. I met some very positive |
| and suddenly in the hospital, an emergency room | | | | people, who were encouraging to meet and uplifting |
| doctor gave me advice to stop taking radiation, citing | | | | to speak with. Others were extremely negative, sour |
| it as the cause for my emergency room visit. I was | | | | people who did nothing but complain. |
| in the midst of taking radiation treatments. | | | | No surprise, the pleasant people had better results. |
| It never occurred to me that the oncologist would | | | | Were they pleasant because they had better results, |
| disagree with the emergency room doctor. The | | | | or were they seeing better results because they |
| oncologist said that it was totally unrelated and that | | | | were pleasant and focused on the outcome they |
| the emergency doctor was not a specialist. Now in | | | | wanted? I believe that they created their own |
| my mind, I had come to terms with what the | | | | outcome. |
| emergency doctor had told me. I was not prepared | | | | So, if I had some words of advice to give to |
| to take radiation that day and no amount of | | | | someone about to go through radiation therapy, I'd |
| consoling from the oncologist would ease my | | | | say: |
| discomfort. | | | | |
| I firmly believed that regardless of what the | | | | 1. It's not all that bad, really it's not |
| oncologist said, radiation was bad for me if I believed | | | | 2. It's not forever |
| that it was. What the oncologist said, made sense to | | | | 3. Each treatment takes only a mere few minutes |
| me, but my emotions said something else. I went to | | | | 4. Focus on the wonderful center and staff |
| the nurse and said that I just couldn't take the | | | | 5. Focus on the outcome you hope from the |
| treatment that day. I had to get myself in balance. | | | | treatment |
| Prior to that experience, I had always felt good as I | | | | 6. Be thankful for all the help of friends and family |
| had my treatments. I imagined myself on some | | | | 7. Decide to be one of the pleasant people |
| exotic beach enjoying a wonderful trade wind | | | | 8. Find someone who's having a tougher time and |
| breeze, with a waves lapping at the shore and palm | | | | encourage them |
| trees swaying along the coast. I would also imagine | | | | 9. Hope for good results |
| the benefits that the radiation treatment was going | | | | It's all in the attitude. Hope for good results and if |
| to give me. | | | | you work that hope, it turns into expecting good |
| By the next day, I was myself again. I went for a | | | | results and then you've got it made. Think healthy |
| treatment and was able to follow my usual routine. I | | | | thoughts and be well! |
| smiled as I walked in calmly, was cheerful and | | | | |