Monday, November 17, 2014

We get by with a little help from our friends

“They told me not to worry about it.”
These are the words my friend used to sum up a recent doctor’s appointment she had. This friend was someone who was present for every minute of my fight against cancer, from diagnosis to clear scan, so when she found a lump in her own breast she went right in to have it examined. Her doctor said there was definitely a lump, ordered an ultrasound and mammogram for her, and sent her home with a “don’t worry about it.”
Empty phrases like that, along with “I’m sure it’s nothing,” “God wouldn’t give you more than you can handle,” and various others are often shared to offer peace and comfort. In reality they usually invite a daydream involving punches to the speaker’s face. I understand why the average Joe says them, it’s what we’ve been trained to do. You fill the uncomfortable spaces that follow bad news with anything you can. But I find it particularly aggravating when a doctor says this. Are you sharing this because you’ve already felt 10 lumps in other breasts today, and know that the majority of them are actually nothing to worry about? Because to me that feels like you are minimizing my feelings surrounding a serious topic. Are you saying that because it’s what you think I want to hear? Well let me make something clear to you doctor: that is not what I want to hear.
So my friend takes her prescribed tests and the number to call for scheduling them. The first location offered her an appointment in a week and a half, and the second had space for her in three weeks.  I wish hearing their schedule availability was as shocking to me as it was to her. When I found a lump in my breast, I was told I could be seen four days later. When I found the lump I also found this borderline crazy; the leading lady within myself marched into the doctor’s office that very same day and demanded to be seen even though my appointment was days away. And when I was told I would have to wait a week for an ultrasound, you better believe I called other offices until I found one that would see me in two days. I told her it probably would be fine to wait a week for the next appointment, but I had to make sure she knew that if she was feeling as crazy as I did there were other options.
To say I received incredible medical care would be an understatement. I was also the patient that made a name for her self in the hospital—I made friends with everyone. So when my best friend called me with an all too familiar situation my first instinct was to get her to “my people”. I made a phone call to one of my nurses and explained the situation. I sang the hospital’s praises, and then bluntly said that I knew we could figure out a better option for my friend. The nurse gave me a number to call, a specific person to talk to, and the right names to drop.  My friend made the phone call, followed my nurse’s instructions, and suddenly had an appointment for 8:30 the next morning.
Why did I have to make a phone call for my friend’s health to be handled in a serious, timely manner?
I understand that much of life is about who you know, but is this really true when it comes to our health? When I was begging hospitals all over the country to treat me with radiation, after my own hospital turned me away for being too high-risk, the only reason I found a place that would take me was because of a phone call made on my behalf. When I called on my own I heard for the hundredth time that I didn’t qualify. I happened to be very close to one of the lawyers for this particular hospital and when she initiated a call, acting as my advocate as she talked to their head doctor, we almost immediately heard a ‘yes.’ I was able to receive the treatment I needed because of who I knew, just like how my friend was made a priority because of who she knew.
But what about all of the people who don’t know someone? Who informs patients of what’s available to them? Who ensures that each patient gets the highest standard of treatment they deserve?
Sadly, there seems to be a lack of resources to answer these questions. I have been treated at the best hospitals—but at times, even under fantastic care, I found a difference in what I knew was available for me and what actually was available for me. So who spoke on my behalf the majority of the time? I did.
Cancer was the first time in my life where I had to be an advocate for myself. Maybe it’s pathetic that it took a threat to my life to learn to speak up, but regardless it’s a lesson I will never forget. I pray that you learn from my experience before finding yourself in a similar one. I went from a girl who accepted the answers she was fed to a woman who demanded the ones she wanted. From day one I saw that no one else was going to do it for me, so it was either take the wheel or spin out of control. It didn’t take courage. It didn’t take status. All it took was opening my mouth.
If there is something troubling you about your health, confront it. If you don’t think your chemo nurse is giving you the care you need, ask for a new one. If you’re not getting answers, demand them. Hospitals are full of loving people who are usually willing to meet your needs—you just have to express them. You can’t assume that others will advocate for you and you don’t have to settle on answer A without seeking B, C, and D.
Speak up. Be your own advocate. You are in control of your own health and life.


Saturday, November 1, 2014

high-low, high-low, doo-doo-da-doo-doo-doo

This week my bandages came off for the last time. I hope that some of the weight from the last 19 months go away with them. I know I have ??? years of hormone therapy and check ups ahead, but the surgery I had in September was the last part of my in hospital treatment plan that was created over a year an a half ago. It's finally time to experience life after treatment. Swallowing a pill is all that hormone therapy asks of me and thousands of people do the exact same action daily with vitamins or tylenol. I only have to do something lots of people do. I believe that means I'm only required to do something completely normal.  A life without looming surgeries or daily trips to the hospital. THAT SOUNDS TOO DAMN GOOD.
So I reflect. To look at where I was and where I am. As a reminder of why every day I wake up healthy and happy is a day to give thanks. And to keep a little fear in me so I do everything in my power to prevent reoccurrence.

Cancer lows and cancer highs through a little chatting and a lot of selfies.


May 2013
Low: Diagnosis, fondling by dozens of strangers, 
chemo begins. 
High: NT girls hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim and rep "Love Conquers All" as they do it.




June 2013
Low: Signature mane falls out. Nothing is private about my body anymore/detachment to cope.
High: I make bald work for me.




July 2013
Low: Emotions are officially out of control/hormones, hormones everywhere .
High: Round 1 of chemo ends and we celebrate Christmas in July. 




August 2013
Low: Unable to name reasons to keep fighting, Anna leaves.
High: Shipped off to NYC and CA in hopes of refueling/Cymbalta'd up as an attempt to balance out.




September 2013
Low: All 20 nails are officially gone and replaced with numb toes and useless fingers. Mastectomy talk begins.
High: Theme-o is born & life does a 180.




October 2013
Low: Physically/mentally at weakest, on bedrest, quit my job.
High: FINISHED CHEMO, Colin Meyer enters life.



November 2013
Low: Double mastectomy + axillary dissection, body is unrecognizable.
High: Clear post-op path report!!!





December 2013
Low: How is this feminine? Human? Recovery is hell.
High: Healthy enough for Christmas in Cali





January 2014
 Low: Radiation drama, begging hospitals all over the country to treat me before CDH agrees. Scans/appointments/all hands and eyes on my body resume.
High: 20 doctor less days.





February 2014
Low: Living at CDH

High: Weekend in Massachusettes + a comical symptom. Lymphedema/baby hand brings joy to all who see it and Anna is a stud at her first NESCACs.




March 2014
 Low: Radiation/spending every day at the hospital drains spirit and body, once again struggling to find the desire to live.
High: Finally a hospital gown I can work with




April 2014
Low: Liquids only, gooey/fried skin. 
High: Healing begins.




May 2014
Low: Starting hormone therapy makes me nauseous and emo, "was fighting to stay alive worth it?"

High: Post radiation party.




June 2014
Low: Goodbye to the 19 biggest reasons that made hanging on worth it

High: Justin Timberlake circa 1999 is alive and well.



July 2014
Low: Test results concern my doctor and heart/mind decide they want to start processing the past year while I'm trying to Hakuna Matata around paradise.

 High: Central America because I earned it.



August 2014
Low: Leaving everyone who took care of me and constantly provided love to process and start over on my own.
High: Put my time with cancer to use with Reimagine, finally thankful to be alive, fresh start.




September 2014
Low: More surgery/resume patient life.

High: Work with cancer patients/survivors/caregivers to improve the cancer experience. 



October 2014
 Low: A month of gauze and nipple guards. Leg incision reopens. My body once again is more science experiment than human. 

High: Active treatment ends and it's all preventative treatment from here out!!!



November 2014
Low: What to vegans eat on Thanksgiving?

High: Final bandages are removed and I can claim MY new and HEALED body. I want to be more modest again and private with it, treating my body as the sacred masterpiece that it is. I'm proud of what it carried me through and am enjoying the chance to get to know it and celebrate it.  






"...and the scars that mark my body, they're silver and gold."