Wednesday, July 22, 2015

The Courage of a Cancer Patient

Good Morning Cancer Patients and Caregivers;
When you are diagnosed with cancer you don't realize at first the journey you are taking and the battle your body will be in. Most cancer patients receive the diagnosis, listen to the prescribed treatment regime and start the process of cancer treatment with their oncologist and cancer treatment team or surgeon. Every cancer patient has a choice when first diagnosed with cancer: to start treatment of some kind or to not start treatment. Either decision requires courage, the courage to start and go through treatment or the courage to not receive treatment. I think courage is a moral value that sustains our decision regarding treatment. It allows us to stand strong during the brutal abuse treatment causes us and the caregiver, and provides the positive attitude, this too will pass, and the cancer will be eliminated. Surviving cancer or living with cancer forces you to live your life for a new reason and that takes courage. Courage gives you the strength to endure: the treatment process and debilitating side effects; surgery if required; and, recovery from the treatment and surgery.

With every cancer patient and caregiver you know and meet you should recognize their courage and encourage them to stay strong and not give up. Commend them for their courage which they will not have recognized. Encourage them to not give up the fight and cancer is not worth dieing for.

Every cancer patient decides how they will respond to the challenges of cancer. How they deal with their cancer and the treatment journey, is their decision. It takes courage. As a cancer survivor I support their decision and admire their courage.

Stay strong, keep your sense of humor and never give up.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Staying Motivate Ain't Easy

Good Morning Cancer Patients and Caregivers;
Staying motivated in a long cancer treatment process is not like going on the family vacation and enduring the long ride to your vacation destination as your motivation dwindles because the car ride lasts longer than your motivational spirit. But once you've reach your vacation destination, the long journey seems tolerable and is forgotten as your motivation and excitement about arriving return.

I was fortunate that my cancer treatment only lasted 13 months. But 13 months can seem like eternity when every day is filled with enduring the numerous side effects treatment doles out, the pain and discomfort from the treatment itself, be it from chemo, radiation and surgery. The nauseousness, dehydration, diarrhea, constipation, flu-like symptoms and all the other treatment related discomforts and aggravations the treatment process bestows on you, doesn't lend itself to staying motivated over a long duration of treatment.

To stay motivated during treatment requires work and the ability to identify motivating factors ( little things that  help you keep your attitude and avoid depression). These can be as simple as: finishing the last treatment for the week and enjoying the week end; having a day when the nauseousness is more tolerable; being told your blood work results are improving; carrying a few songs in your head that you feel have personal meaning and help you stay motivated.

During my treatment I carried several songs in my head that always seemed to percolate up. These were: "It's a Great Day to be Alive" by Travis Tritt; "Center Field" by John Fogerty; "Shape I'm In" by The Arc Angels; and "How Sweet It Is" by James Taylor. I recently heard a great song that just came out and I would have included in that list. I recommend you consider carrying it around in your head. The song is by Reba McEntire, titled " Livin' Ain't Killed Me Yet ". The following are the words to the song I thought I would share with you. The song is a Country Rock fast beat song you can enjoy and most cancer patients should relate to.
 "Living Ain't Killed Me Yet"
Life will throw you a curve ball
Back against a brick wall
Push you right up to the edge
It'll hit you from your blind side
Kick you in the backside
Barely even break a sweat

It's a roll with the punches
Funny little life we lead
Oh, but I'm in it for the long haul
Win, lose or draw, y'all
It won't get the best of me

Cause I been down to the wire
With my feet to the fire
But this livin' ain't killed me yet
Well I been tested and tried
But I still got some fight
No, this livin' ain't killed me,
Livin' ain't killed me yet

I won't let a couple mistakes
Wrong turns that I've made
Be a noose around my neck
Hurt will hurt if you let it
Unless you just forget it
Shake it off, and say what's next

It's an up down, spin around
crazy kinda world we're in, oh yeah
But I'm in it for the long haul, win, lose or draw
Might fall, but I'll get up again

Cause I been down to the wire
With my feet to the wire
But this livin' ain't killed me yet
Well I been tested and tried
But I still got some fight
No, this livin' ain't killed me,
Livin' ain't killed me yet

Oh, I'm in it for the long haul
Win, lose or draw
As long as I've got air to breathe
Ah, it won't get the best of me!

Cause I been down to the wire
With my feet to the fire
But this livin' ain't killed me yet
I been tested and tried
But I still got some fight
No, this livin' ain't killed me,
Livin' ain't killed me,
livin' ain't killed me oh oh oh yet
Nawww yet. 
 
Staying motivate ain't easy in a long cancer treatment. You need to find the mechanisms that will help you when you need motivation the most and livin' ain't killed you yet.

Stay strong, keep your sense of humor and never give up.








Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Cancer Isn't Worth Dieing For

Good Morning Cancer Patients and Caregivers;
Cancer treatment becomes a rigorous brutal undertaking with its numerous treatment protocols, side effects, surgeries, treatment regimes, and the physical abuse treatment puts your body through. No matter how bad the treatment is, and you may feel like dieing rather than continuing with treatment, cancer is not worth dieing for.

Every cancer patient decides how they will deal with their cancer. Doing no more than going to treatment and suffering through the agony of treatment and treatment side effects, is a choice. Today with the many advances in cancer treatments, there are more cancer patients surviving cancer or are living with cancer than ever before.

Every cancer patient makes the choice to be a survivor and decides how they want to achieve being a survivor. You will always feel like a victim or a specimen going through treatment but meandering through  treatment, hoping not to lose your life to cancer, is not something to look forward to. Your alternative choice as a cancer patient, is to address and challenges of cancer before you.

 Cancer treatment is a high stakes poker game, where the treatment team is determined to cure your cancer, and hope they can do it before the treatment defeats you. It is incumbent on the cancer patient to take a proactive and aggressive approach to doing everything possible to help your body endure the grueling side effects and deterioration of strength, stamina and the body's immune system. Taking a proactive role in your treatment creates the mental strength and fortitude to continue with treatment. It also helps reduce the fear factor that has become your unwanted companion on your cancer journey. Being proactive with your treatment helps build your resolve and inner strength.

If it takes getting a second opinion regarding your diagnosis, treatment and the choices you have regarding your cancer, then get it. The more you know, the more you control the fear factor and the better the decisions you can make. If your oncologist tells you there is nothing more he can do. He is telling you he has exhausted his knowledge and resource base. Ask for a referral or find another oncologist that has the attitude and motivation to help you win this battle.

Cancer patients need to take control of their destiny in cancer treatment. They need to decide they want to skew the survival statistics by defeating cancer. You may have to get mad dog mad about having cancer in order to buck up to do everything possible to help your treatment team be successful with the treatment. No one ever dated the prom queen (king) by hoping not to lose. Buck up and take the battle to cancer. Get an attitude and get mad dog mad. Find what works for you and never give up. Cancer isn't worth dieing for.

Stay strong, keep your sense of humor and never give up.