BC (Before Cancer)
There I was, on top of the world. My children were thriving and happy, I was engaged to be married and work was going well. All signs were pointing in the direction of "Happily Ever After." We all know that on the roller coaster of life we will experience challenges, set backs and disappointments. However, I had always felt invincible; a cancer diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy were the biggest physical and emotional challenges of my life.
Disclaimer: The Personal Care Products Council, the American Cancer Society, and the National Cosmetology Association host these blogs with the hope that they will help our constituents realize that other women are facing the same issues that they are facing. The blogs are intended for informational purposes only and contain no medical advice. Some of the blogs may discuss the bloggers' medical conditions and other medical information. Please remember that none of our bloggers are medical professionals, so the information included in their blogs may not be accurate or applicable to your situation. If you have any questions regarding your medical condition or medical information discussed in the blogs, including treatments and procedures, you should consult with your personal physician who is familiar with your particular medical needs.
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1 Comments:
When my mom first told me that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, I was more than devastated. I didn't know much about the disease, but I knew it could be deadly...basically, I couldn't imagine what living without her would be like, let alone watching her suffer. When my mom finally found out that the cancer hadn't spread, it was a relief, but I knew that there were still bumps in the road ahead. Obstacles aside, I was thankful just to know that she was going to get through this. And I made a point of letting her know that I would be by her side as much as I possibly could.
Having said that, my mom told my brother and me about her cancer diagnosis less than one week before I was supposed to leave the country for a Spring Break trip with my friends. I was extremely hesitant to leave her; it felt wrong to go on vacation while she was going through such intense medical procedures. But my mom insisted that I go, and that she would be upset if I didn't. I don't mention this to show how nice of a person she is (even though it's true!): it demonstrates her strength and confidence. She knew that she was going to get through this, and she tried her hardest to keep her life and the lives of her family members as normal as possible. I was by my mom's bedside when she woke up from the mastectomy, and the next day I was on a plane to the Carribean. I called her every day, and was amazed by her constant resillience and high spirit.
It was painful for me to watch my mom go through the treatment process because I didn't want her to feel discomfort. She lost a noticable amount of weight because of the chemo, and she was often in pain and very tired. I tried my hardest to maintain composure, and to be happy, helpful, and considerate. It definitely made me sad and anxious a good deal of the time, but I tried to offset that anxiety by helping her feel better in any way that I could. She called me her nurse! I figured that the last thing that she needed was for me to be depressed because of her condition, so even when it was really hard, I tried my hardest to stay positive. As time went on and a routine emerged, it became easier to cope with the situation. (And of course, pleasant distractions like the wedding were always helpful in that regard!)
I still don't think my mom realizes how well she dealt with the physical changes that confronted her from chemotherapy. I remember the first day that she came home with her wig on; I'm pretty sure she expected me to say something, but to be perfectly honest, I forgot. She looked completely natural, and I couldn't tell that she was wearing a wig! My friends always commented to me about how well she looked when they were over at my house, and I was extremely impressed with the attention to detail that she took in making herself look healthy. I am sure it played an important part in her recovery to know that she could still look good even though she wasn't necessarily feeling her best.
Keeping a sense of humor was a major part of what kept my mom (and me, and the rest of my family) sane during her treatment process. Of course, cancer is a very serious disease; but my mom has taught me that you're only as sick as you feel, and if you keep telling yourself that you're happy and well and upbeat, you'll actually BECOME all of those things (as she's demonstrated) rather quickly.
I have learned so much from this experience, but I think that most importantly I now love and respect my mother more than anyone else in the world. The fact that she could live through this, laugh about it, AND wake up to go to work in the morning made me look up to her in awe. I don't think that many people, myself included, would have the willpower to go on with her life like she has done. Furthermore, I cherish my time with my mom infinitely more than I did before she got breast cancer. That's not to say that I didn't love her before; but when my mom's wellbeing was put on the line, it made me realize how much she means to me, and that I don't know what I would do if she weren't around tomorrow. So even though I know that her treatment is over and she is doing fine, our relationship will still mean the world to me. She is the greatest trooper I have ever seen!
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