Category Archives: Coping after cancer
Caregivers need support too
I sometimes wonder how intensely people worry about me when it comes to my health. Often, others don’t want to show us their real emotions during cancer – and even during post-treatments – so as not to overwhelm us. I am … Continue reading
“Culturally Disturbed”
Ever wonder why some people don’t like to talk about their cancer? I was one of these people, at least at the beginning. Many patients don’t want anyone to know except for maybe those closer to them. You see a … Continue reading
Stuck in between two worlds
The best way to describe my struggle with survivorship is by calling it being “stuck in between two worlds.” Let me start by telling you a story about a writing workshop I attended at Sloan. The panel included writers and … Continue reading
My sixteen chances
Just when I had started to mentally prepare for my chemo treatments, my surgeon raised a good question: “Do you want to harvest your eggs prior to chemo?” (A surprised look on my face) “If you want to have children … Continue reading
The “Big D”
“The trouble is, you think you have time” – From “Buddha’s Little Instruction Book” The day I was diagnosed with breast cancer was the day the “Big D” packed his bags and left me. I don’t blame him. If I … Continue reading
Associations
I’ve just returned from a vacation. I was really hoping to have both a mental and physical time off. Away from all of this stress I have in NYC. I didn’t want to think of cancer during my vacation. But … Continue reading
What it feels like to be in the oncology waiting room
My friend Ed recently asked me, “What does it feel like to be in the oncology waiting room?” It was an interesting question. I had seen many doctors in my life, but never a medical oncologist. It feels different to … Continue reading
To ignore or to educate: that is the question
I don’t think any of us really expects people to offer us perfect words of wisdom or comfort when they find out about our diagnoses, but I am surprised by how many people have impulsively said really inappropriate and completely … Continue reading
The small c 