Sunday will be the four year anniversary of the day I had breast recontruction surgery after cancer. My tissue expanders were removed once chemotherapy was over and my silicone implants were put in. Last week I had my annual visit to my plastic/reconstructive surgeon and received the all-clear to now have a visit every two years. It’s always gratifying when the time in between visits gets longer; I remember when I was there at least once a week during the reconstruction process.
“Did you know it’s been four years since your surgery?” my surgeon asked. Immediately he chuckled, “Of course you know that,” he said, realizing my mental calendar was certainly more precise than his– of course I marked the days off in my head.
Whenever I sit in a waiting room I am instantly transported to that place and time. I sit and watch patients walking in and walking out. I can tell by hearing what the time interval until their next appointment what stage of treatment they are in.
I sit in the chair, the same one I did four years ago.
It’s the same chair, but I am not the same person.
My body is not the same.
There is continuity in that chair.
There is a story it tells me.
I wrote this piece to the next person who sits in that chair.
………………………….
That chair you’re sitting in?
I’ve sat in it too.
In waiting rooms. Chemo rooms. Prep rooms. For tests. Surgeries. Procedures. Inpatient. Outpatient. Emergency visits. Routine visits. Urgent visits. To see generalists. Specialists. Surgeons. Alone. With friends. With family members. As a new patient. Established patient. Good news. Bad news. I’ve left with new scars. Prescriptions. Appointments. Words of wisdom. Theories. Guesses. Opinions. Statistics. Charts. Plans. Tests. Words of assurance. More bloodwork. Nothing new. Nothing gained. Nothing but a bill.
That feeling you’re having?
I’ve had it too.
Shock. Disbelief. Denial. Grief. Anger. Frustration. Numbness. Sadness. Resignation. Confusion. Consternation. Curiosity. Determination. Dread. Anxiety. Guilt. Regret. Loss. Pain. Emptiness. Embarrassment. Shame. Loneliness.
That day you’re dreading?
I’ve dreaded it too.
The first time you speak the words, “I have cancer.” The first time you hear “Mommy has cancer.” The day you wear a pink shirt instead of a white shirt. Anniversary day. Chemo day. Surgery day. Scan day. Decision day. Baldness day. The day the options run out.
Those reactions you’re getting?
I’ve had them too.
Stares. Questions. Pity. Blank looks. Insensitivity. Jaw-dropping comments.
Those side effects you dread?
I’ve dreaded them too.
Nausea. Vomiting. Pain. Broken bones. Weakened heart. Baldness. Hair loss. Everywhere. Unrelenting runny nose. Fatigue. Depression. Hot flashes. Insomnia. Night sweats. Migraines. Loss of appetite. Loss of libido. Loss of breasts. Phantom pain. Infection. Fluid accumulation. Bone pain. Neuropathy. Numbness. Joint pain. Taste changes. Weight gain. Weight loss. Some of them happen. Some don’t. Eventually, though? You name it. It changes. Temporarily anyway.
That embarrassment you’re feeling?
I’ve felt it too.
Buying a swimsuit. Getting a tight-fitting shirt stuck on my body in the dressing room. Having a child say “You don’t have any eyebrows, do you?” Wearing a scarf. Day after day. Wondering about wearing a wig because it’s windy outside and it might not stay on.
That fear you’re suppressing?
I’ve squelched it too.
Will this kill me? How bad is chemo going to be? How am I going to manage 3 kids and get through it? Will my cancer come back and take me away from my life? Will it make the quality of life I have left so bad I won’t want to be here anymore? Is this pain in my back a recurrence? Do I need to call a doctor? If it comes back would I do any more chemo or is this as much fight as I’ve got in me? What is worse: the disease or the treatment?
That day you’re yearning for?
I’ve celebrated it too.
“Your counts are good” day. “Your x-ray is clear” day. “Now you can go longer between appointments” day. “See you in a year”day. First-sign-of-hair day. First-day-without-covering-your-head day. First taste of food day. First Monday chemo-isn’t-in-the-calendar day. Expanders-out, implants-in day. First walk-without-being-tired day. First game-of-catch-with-the-kids day. First day out for lunch with friends day. First haircut day. “Hey, I went a whole day without thinking about cancer” day. “Someone asked me how I’m doing, I said ‘fine’ and I meant it” day.
That hope you have?
I have it too:
A cure.
Don’t you think that would be amazing?
I think so too.
Link to Twitter
I’m so happy to hear you have a two year revisit at that doctor. Here’s to more and more space between visits and perfect health. xo
My friend, you are amazing. I will never be able to say that enough. The insight you give, the understanding you show, the compassion you express. There are so many people who need to reach out but they don’t know where or to who… here, they should come here and sit a while with my friend.
Thank you, as always, for your thoughtfulness, insight, and honesty.
This is just perfect. What a letter for the person sitting in the chair you sat in. Can anyone say it better? I doubt that. Hopefully, you are writing a book so that others can benefit from your incredible wisdom, experience and gentle guidance.
I am in awe.
Beautiful, you dear person.
I just had a follow-up with one of my doctors, and everything was fine–but sometimes revisiting those places & people surprises me by being fraught with emotion.
Yes, a cure would be amazing. <3
It’s a fantastic feeling when your doctor lets more time elapse between appointments. You’ve come so far and helped so many through your writing and personal support. I’m so honored to call you a friend.
Such a powerful reminder of the individual, yet communal experience. I have tears in my eyes and goosebumps, even though this (cancer) is not my particular story. Fear and hope are universal. Congratulations on your continued healing journey.
Lisa, this is beautiful, and I am 1)proud to “know” you as a twitter friend, 2)so happy that it has been 4 years, and you are over the worst, and 3)hopeful that many others will take hope and courage from your words. xo molly
I’ve been thinking a lot about spirituality lately and, in my perspective, the highest calling is to connect with others, and to offer help in the way that’s unique to each of us. That’s what I see in this–that you’re willing to remember, which can amount to reliving those experiences, and to share what you learned so the way might be easier for someone else. I appreciate that so much.
What a wonderful post. I relate to the chair. I sat in one too. I relate to all your lists. No matter how far out from the experiences I get, it always amazes me how quickly I can be drawn back in. So many memories. So many questions. So many fears. So many feelings. So much uncertainty still. Well said.
I love this entry. Waiting rooms offer a slew of memories for me, too. And I often observe with a bleeding heart those which I can tell are “new” to the process.
I am covered in goosebumps. Your words are so powerful here, Lisa. I hope, as I always do, that many read this. You rock. xo
This is powerful, and wonderful and intense. My dad just had his six month visit, still cancer free after fighting prostate cancer. Next visit in the fall. We’re counting too.
xo
It’s really nice to read this. ^^
I’ll go for my first mammograph tomorrow. I found something strange in my right breast. hope it’s not cancer. ^^