Some Things I Learned from Breast Cancer…

A diagnosis of breast cancer comes with many lessons. All cancers do. Here are just a few :

• The people who are there for you may come with a few pleasant surprises and a few disappointments.
• Wearing wigs takes practice to make them look natural. A good wig gal guarantees never having a bad hair day!
• Life doesn’t stop for you or anyone else when you have cancer. There are still things that have to be done and good things to be enjoyed.
• Avoid the toxic person who looks at you as if you have an hour to live.  Also avoid the one who wants to know every detail of your experience and then wants to tell you what happened to someone she knows who has breast cancer.
• Pick a few close friends and family members who are non-judgmental, good listeners and let them be the people you turn to when you need to talk. It helps if they have a sense of humor.
• Let people help. Some people are not good with words, but they would be happy to help  by running errands, cooking a meal or driving  you to treatment.
• There are those who will tell you that your cancer was hard for them to deal with and that is why they couldn’t call you or visit while you were in treatment.
• A friend or family may expect you to be your old self as soon as treatment is over with no residual fears and no need to speak about your experience ever again unless you have a recurrence.
• Every day that you wake up and don’t have to go for tests or treatment is a good day!