Hey everybody! @DREW's finished his chemo!! Now that he's completed chemo, he gets pitched back into the real world of life, post-chemo starting now. He’s a fighter and a survivor. I’ve been honored to watch his progress, thanks to twitter, over the past few months. He’s done a great job.
His big day reminded me about my last chemo day, way back in 1993. I was thrilled to close that chapter in my life. No more needles, no more IV hooks. It’s a strange time in one’s life – it’s a milestone that few people will ever have to mark, and it’s a milestone I wish more people could avoid… but until the elusive cure-all for cancer is discovered, some people will have to endure the chemo drips, the radiation burns, and the surgical scars, all in pursuit of restored health.
One thing I’ve always wished I had was a checklist or guide to my new post-chemo life. Here’s my attempt at providing this list for Drew.…(I also shared the list with Brian Simpson (@BSIMI) when he completed his chemo treatments too!)
To Drew, here’s a few things I wish I had known when I finished my last chemo.
1) There is no normal. You’re life will never return “to normal”.
2) You might get anxious. A few weeks out from your last treatment, you might get a little anxious. You’ll realize you’re no longer “actively” fighting your cancer. It can be a strange time. For some people, chemo can act as a security blanket, it reinforces that you’re doing something to deal your cancer. The end of treatment is rather abrupt… One day you’re getting chemo, the next day you're done. No more treatment. It’s like you just jumped into the deep end of life for the first time, without your “floaties”. It can be scary but, don’t worry. The feeling will pass.
3) Listen to your body. Your body is a fine tuned machine. An experience with cancer heightens your sense of awareness of your body and all its interconnected systems. Pay attention to your body – when you’re tired, rest. When you’re feeling blue, acknowledge it. When you’re feeling good, enjoy it. Your body will tell you what you need – just listen to it and respect it.
4) Make sure you go to all your follow-up appointments. This is very important. You might feel like a strong, healthy person and don’t need to see the doctors to “just to check in.” Nonsense! Make sure you check in. Be an active participant in your long-term care. You’re a survivor. With survivorship comes the additional burden of long-term care. Make sure your doctors have a long term plan for you - they’ll keep an eye on all your vital systems and make sure there’s minimal long term effects from your chemo.
5) Celebrate the little things in life. Every day is a gift. Look around; take time to really see things in your life. Beauty is everywhere. Life is a magical thing. take it all in….. Enjoy it.
6) Be patient. As you begin to move forward in your life, you might notice that not everyone around you has the “wide-eyed” optimism and appreciation for life that you now have. Be patient with these people – help show them the way. (Thank you LS.)
You’ve done a great job sharing your story - everyone, including myself, will always gain strength from you.
Drew, welcome to the AWESOME CANCER SURVIVORS club. You were a member the first day you were diagnosed. Congratulations on battling the BIG C monster
Congratulations, @Drew! I look forward to hearing about what you decide to do with your future.
Posted by: bint alshamsa | November 12, 2009 at 01:35 PM
thank you so much for your support, and for this post. i am already going through a lot of this. this part i think might be AS challenging as the diagnosis/fighting part.
<3
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=501203508 | November 12, 2009 at 01:40 PM
Hey Drew,
First congrats on using your battle with cancer to raise awareness inspire people everywhere! you're the man!
Second, to add to your post chemo checklist, climb a mountain with rockers and other cancer survivors on an epic musical journey! The Love Hope Strength foundation has been doing this for a couple of years and it's a killer way to emotionally cleanse, physically challenge, continue to inspire and results in delivering help to countries/people in need. They just did one on Kilimanjaro with The Fixx, The Alarm, Gin Blossoms, Stray Cats etc kilirocks.org and are using proceeds raised to build a cancer center in E. Africa. We would love to have you in the army! www.lovehopestrength.org
Posted by: twitter.com/damata | November 12, 2009 at 01:51 PM
I'm thrilled for you @DREW to have this challenging aspect of treatment behind you. Treatment is one part of survivorship. You can say goodby to nausea, needles, needle pokes, blood draws every other day, Zofran, dry mouth metallic taste, joint pain, and all symptoms associated with chemo.
Now comes a phase that no one can prepare you for but in my estimation, needs as much if not more support than treatment. It's the adjustment to having cancer in your life and what is left in the aftermath. Fatigue. Bills. Insurance hassles. Pressure to be a happy survivor each and every day (we aren't, we're all human). Physical alterations from surgery to treat the cancer. Mental alterations from the onslaught of chemo and anesthesia. Mental stress -- for some, learning a new way to take care of yourself.
There's a huge wish to feel DONE. Why don't I feel better? Why don't I like to do this anymore? I didn't cry this much when I was diagnosed, why now?
Why now, indeed? Now's the time you can process everything that happened. For me, that took longer than I expected. I needed both physical and lymphadema therapy. I needed new clothes. When my hair grew back initially it was freakin' weird. I was hot, and bothered, and often felt like a raging bull. But that didn't stop me from trying, or working, or training for and completing an Avon Three Day Walk (it was 20 miles a day for three days in a row!) which I loved.
In fact, here's the beauty of the whole experience: the more I talked to survivors,and FOR survivors, the more I became myself. PLUS some. The more I do to help people with cancer the more strength God gives me.
So, go with the flow. You are already on an awesome path. If I had better understood that there is often a difficult time of adjustment perhaps I could have same myself some grief. Hope it does for you and all who are winding up their chemotherapy right now.
Blessings,
Jody
Posted by: twitter.com/jodyms | November 12, 2009 at 02:41 PM
Your slate has been wiped clean and anything can happen. Your future is unwritten. You've learned things from this experience that will allow you to take pen in hand and write your own future.
Post-chemo... I got myself a personal trainer and worked with a nutritionist to make my cancer-free body even better and healthier than it had ever been before. I stopped drinking soda or alcohol and started treating myself like the amazing miracle that the human body is. I took yoga classes and long walks and I pull over if I see a really cool sunset so I can take a moment to appreciate the beauty in life.
Use your vacation days. Make a promise to yourself to take your birthday off every year. Take Sarah's birthday off, too, while you're at it. Take lots of photographs. Laugh. Sleep in on Sundays and get the Sunday paper and your coffee and crawl back into bed to enjoy them. Buy a pair of bunny slippers just because they're silly. Embrace silly.
You're going to be fine.
Posted by: twitter.com/J_OMalley | November 12, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Drew,
I have been following your journey since you jumped out of a plane. Your strength, your smile, your perseverance have been an ongoing inspiration to me, and I am sure to all of the lives you've touched with your story. Thanks for being willing to be a "poster boy" of sorts, and spread awareness and dollars to beat cancer. I #blamedrewscancer that there are not more people on the planet, like Drew.
Elaine Marinari
Posted by: Elaine Marinari | November 12, 2009 at 04:29 PM
Makes me think of Chris Brewer's blog post yesterday from 13 years out: http://livestrongblog.org/2009/11/13/the-fear-of-recurrence-after-13-years/
"...the fight never ends. Cancer may leave your body, but it never leaves your life."
Offsetting all this: new purpose and amazing community.
Posted by: Scott Joy | November 14, 2009 at 10:42 AM
very good post !!! nice job !!!
Posted by: Cancer disease | November 17, 2009 at 02:17 PM