The signs of healing…
First she found out she had cancer. “You have cancer.” Words that shook her soul.
Then came the biopsies, the staging and more words. This time, they were more precise. They spelled out the type, if there was a genetic component, how aggressive her type of cancer was and the treatment needed to kill it.
Then there was the treatment. Surgery led the way. She lost her breasts. But she thought if that’s what it takes to live and be here for my kids and husband, that’s OK. Then came a lot of chemotherapy, a lot of radiation and a lot of strong cancer drugs. The radiation really hit her hard. She was very sick and she was very tired. The treatments had to stop for awhile because her body just couldn’t take the assault.
But she rallied.
She got a wig and went back to work. She leaned hard, on her family and they were there for her. And she rallied again.
The wig came off because the short little wisps of hair gave her a new look. It was the look of post-cancer treatment and she liked that.
Now, it’s time for reconstruction. This time the surgery tells a different story. It’s not a cancer story any more, it’s a survival story. Her body is being reshaped and when she heals-up this time, she’ll be whole in so many positive ways….
Really whole.
August 16, 2019 @ 9:05 pm
This is the same season my family is going through. My mom has to received 6 sessions of Chemo for her breast CA grade 2B, but on her supposed 4th session her nodules in the liver got cleared. And refuses to take chemo again. is this a good sign? Doctor decided to just give her oral meds (tamoxifen) for 3 mo’s. I’m afraid to let her take it bec ofthe side effects.
June 22, 2012 @ 3:21 pm
This is a familiar journey – the hardship and the rallying. The wig and the return of hair. The diagnosis shock.
But what I love about this post is the idea of becoming whole once again. After the treatments, as far away from the cancer as possible, we all strive to become whole (whether it’s physically or just metaphorically). Good luck with the upcoming surgery.
June 21, 2012 @ 6:54 pm
Glad to read she is on the winning side. She has endured hell for so long. A young friend of mine and I were going through chemo at the same time. She for breast cancer and me for melanoma. We were our support group along with our families. We’d meet periodically….she with no hair and me with surgical bandages to cover my skin grafts as well as thinning hair. We would talk about what was going on and how we were doing, emotionally and physically and we’d joke and laugh. She elected to have both of her breasts removed even though no sign of cancer in one of them. She finally went through reconstruction and all is well for some 8 years now. At the time she and her husband were preparing for reconstruction, she told me that they took a day to go “boobie.” shopping…what size she should be after recon. They made it a day of fun and celebration and laughs. They deserved some fun after enduring the worst that the beast had to offer. She is one of my heroes
Laurie, hopefully your friend will also be able to celebrate and give Thanks.