Dealing with cancer

Several of my friends have been diagnosed with cancer lately. Ladies - you haven't had one recently: Go get a mamogram!

The excerpt below is from my sister to my friend, CT, who I have known since I was 9. We used to be inseperable, but I guess several oceans, marriages, kids, careers, life has managed to keep us apart. I miss her a lot and she is one of those people that REALLY knows me. CT is going through treatment for breast cancer. My sister went into remission from Hodgkins Lymphoma in 1995. I think it is advise anyone who has a friend or relative with cancer should pass along:

• Synthetic wigs are better than the real thing, but they still suck.
• Get a catheter for chemo if you don’t have one already, your kids will think you are a BORG but WTF
• If someone tries to stick you more than twice tell them to find another phlebotomist.
• Stay away from the rotisserie chicken part of the grocery store after chemo
• Why-why why does everyone ask how will you handle losing your hair, ITS NOT ABOUT MY HAIR!
• One word ATIVAN. Loved it to sleep
• Your mother may drive you more crazy than she already does.
• People always know the WRONG thing to say
• Medical personnel are tired and often angry, but make them know you. They need to know you. Show them pictures of your kids. Your life is in their hands.
• Sometimes the person gawking at your wig in the grocery store, wore one once.
• You meet some really really great people on this journey.
• Listen to yourself, you will hear things, and be closer to what is important than ever before.
• Meditation/healing CDs are helpful and sometimes hokey
• Have a cancer film festival with girlfriends and wine. (Desert Girl) and I went for Beaches and Brians Song, you get the picture!
• Fake boobs are so much easier to deal with, no underwires, no inserts for push up, when your 80 they will be 35. The benefits go on and on.
• You should like your doctor and his/her staff you will be with them for a long time to come, it helps to be comfortable.
  
  Okay that’s all I can think of off the top! It is a lifelong trip you are taking. It sure seems like you are already as good a person as you could be, but you will be better for this. Anyhow, I hope I don’t sound too sappy. This is just a subject I have some personal experience on, although I fully understand that everyone’s experience is their own.