In Order To Be Prepared

I was sitting at the front desk of the office today when a woman entered the building.

"Hello. How can I help you?" I said in my cheeriest, welcoming voice.

She shared with me that she was having surgery for lung cancer in Seattle this coming Friday and was looking for a wig in case she lost her hair if she has chemotherapy treatment.

We went into Wellness House's wig & hat boutique. We found a couple that matched her hair color but she had a hard time getting them to fit right. It's hard to get a good idea about fit when you have all of your hair still, I explained to her. She got up to go when another wig caught her eye. It was more like her current hair style, although a different color, but she took it anyway. I also gave her a turban to wear should she start losing her hair, if she has chemo.

The woman spoke of getting things in order; taking time to make sure all her bills were paid up, that she had time to speak with her family. Finding a wig was part of her effort to be prepared for what lay ahead - because really, she had no idea of what was going to happen past surgery on Friday.

There are a lot of unknowns when a person is diagnosed with cancer. Life is completely turned upside down and halted, in some cases. Focus goes from the day to day living to simply focusing on living. There are feelings of fear, anger, confusion and feeling out of control of your body and your life.

There are a number of ways to take back some of those feelings of control.

1. Start a notebook. In this notebook include copies of paperwork, notes from conversations with your doctors (you will have several) and questions you have. Keep copies of articles you read or information you find to review with your medical team.


2. Keep a calendar. A place in the notebook may be devoted to a calendar. Use the calendar to schedule your medical appointments as well as your professional and personal appointments. As things progress you will use this calendar to plan appointments and treatments with your medical team that may give you the opportunity to adjust appointments as personal plans like birthdays, weddings and trips come along.


3. Write in a journal. This could be another section of your notebook that you may want to separate in two parts. In one part include a daily log of how you are feeling, especially following surgery or while taking chemotherapy or radiation. You will be told what possible side effects you need to watch for and this is a good way to track those. This also serves as a great communication tool when you go to an appointment and you are asked how you have been doing since your last appointment.


4. The other part of the journal is for you, personally. This is a place when you can get out or put down all the emotions you are having. Your journal is a safe spot where you can get angry, scream (yes, you can scream on paper), cry and expel all the pain you may be feeling. This is also a great place to write down accomplishments and milestones; things that you want to look back at some point and say "Wow. I did it."


5. Begin attending a support group or contact someone about a mentor. Even as early as initial diagnosis, connecting with other cancer survivors can improve your outlook toward surgery and treatment. Either format offers you the chance to ask questions and feel a bit more prepared as you move forward.

One woman I met asked a lot of questions of her doctors, her surgeon, everyone on her medical treatment team. She wanted to know everything they knew. It was her life and her body - she was going to have control anyway she could.

Another individual used visualization and meditation to prepare for and get through each segment of their cancer treatment. When they had a chemotherapy appointment scheduled they would begin visualizing the chemo turning into little soldiers as it entered their body, hunting down the cancer and destroying it.

There are many great guided meditation and imagery audio programs that you can listen to prior to surgery or treatment. Dr. Bernie Siegel has some of the best for preparedness.

Most importantly, listen to yourself. What feels right to you and helps you to feel calmer and more in control of the situation? Create that for yourself.

I guess the only other thing I would share with you is to not be afraid to share your thoughts, concerns and feelings with other people. If you are worried about how your family or friends might take what you have to say - call is at Wellness House. We are here to listen with compassion, confidentiality and understanding.

What is it that they say? Oh ya, "What's said in Wellness House, stays in Wellness House."

Blessings, Nan