CANCER TREATMENT - Who's the boss?

Today Jeff Haden popped up in my email from LinkedIn to announce an article called:  Your Boss is Happier Than You.  Maybe I read it because I've had a couple jobs where I was rarely happy.  

I saved this quote - hope he doesn't mind my using it here.  

Engagement and satisfaction are largely based on autonomy and independence. Just like a boss, I care more when I'm in charge and feel empowered to do what's right. 

That reminded me of how many articles I've read on medical sites that complained about patients not following their medication plan. And hospital committees formed to make patients follow their plan!

Since I needed a post for today, I went to KevinMD., and found a different kind of article:  When Something Natural Does Indeed Work, by A Country Doctor, MD.  It is a story about cooperation between a doctor and an older male patient.  Real cooperation.  The patient felt some of his medications were doing him harm.  They discussed it, and planned what to try.  His health soon suffered from giving one up. Instead of insisting, the doctor came up with an alternative, a medicine I've heard of, made from a plant.  Success!  

On the DCIS treatment, I've been lucky.  The surgeon suggested, did not order, that I meet a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist. The radiation oncologist insisted I believe her about unlikely side effects.  But she did say radiation was my decision.  

When the see the medical oncologist this week, I'll have to talk about some medications I take that supposedly don't agree with the medicine I think he will recommend.  And I'll remember the problems others are having with one adjuvant medicine.  I want us to cooperate.  And I do want this to be my decision.  

I want to go back to real life, and be in charge, not in fear.  

  

AFTER RADIATION: THROUGH DCIS EYES

Have at least one question for the radiation oncologist, about why I'm not pink now in the area I thought the Boost was targeting.  I feel awkward about asking her questions now that I've signed the release form.

Talking with a friend who has trouble with her adjuvant therapy made me very hesitant to try again for a Literacy Volunteers tutoring client.  Will the side effects make me feel like doing nothing?   It's still almost two and a half weeks before I see the medical oncologist and find out what he thinks and what medicine he advises me to take.

 And I still want and need to go to work.  Woke up hungry and too early, thinking about how to change my resume.  Preparing for a tutoring client can only be a help at a job.

One in Eight

I see contrasts between "survivors" who exercise and those who don't.  Commuting is certainly a factor - eating up as much of people's time here as in L.A.

In parking lots and in stores, I see women with parasols.  When I saw them before, the parasols seemed odd, unless the women appeared to be from a country where parasols were part of the stereotype.  Now I wonder how many of the women were having radiation and had to avoid the sun.

I'll step outside and see if it's too cold to walk outside while there are still shady places.