Auntie Susu's Cancer Journey

After meeting with my social worker to discuss next steps in cancer survivorship, I have learned that many cancer patients start the clock on being a cancer survivor the day after their last cancer treatment is finished.  In my case, my cancer survivor day is February 17th.  This can serve as an official date that I beat cancer - well as much as we know until I start achieving milestone scans and check up appointments to reaffirm this date.   That means today, I celebrate one month as a cancer survivor!  Yippie for me!!  Even though I should feel over the moon with joy, there is an uneasy feeling where I have a bit of guilt for the feelings of relief that I have escaped alive.  There are feelings of wondering whether I am really done with cancer.  All of this is normal, as I gain new confidence as a cancer survivor.  Each day forward is a blessing to celebrate today... that is a good feeling! Still, my heart feels heavy for several others in ...

In these days of recovery since my last chemo treatment on February 16th, I made another hat.  I really like this sun hat because it comes down over my ears and the back of my neck to keep me warm.  Cancer patients feel cold... and so I have had several days under the blanket with the sunshine coming in through the window.  I sit here in my sun hat and wait for warmer days to come, and I'm listening to my body as I figure out what recovery and self-care means.  It usually means curling up like the cat in the sunshine and having a restful nap. I was reminded that March 3rd was six months to the day since my surgery to remove the cancerous tumour, and since then I have breezed through cancer treatments:  25 outside radiation, 3 brachytherapy radiation, and 6 chemo treatments.  I am lucky that I have had so much medical support and got fast-tracked through my cancer journey to recovery during a pandemic.  My first check up will be May 20th, at the 3-month...