I’ve been a breast cancer survivor for nearly sixteen years. Yeah, hurrah, and hallelujah! Say it again – amen!
Because I had a rare, insidious, and aggressive type, we can double down on the yelps and applause – and repeat them as long as we like. I’ve surpassed the average lifespan of a person diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer over five times. My aftercare is my own concoction and I’ve committed to a tomato/day whereas others do an apple/day.
Because I am prone to special diseases and conditions, docs wanted to test often. I spent a lot of time in a variety of tubes: CT, MRI, etc. – each one seeming to outdo one or the other with the clanging, banging, and jackhammering of the signals sent through various body parts to yield concise and precise information focused specifically to the area to be studied. I’d like to report that that noise was symphonic, but I can’t.
Earplugs and headphones placed snugly over my ears weren’t able to fully mask the noise. But I relied on a mantra found in the Bible in John, re-shaping it so that It sounded like I was in conversation with God and His Son, “You are the Way and the Truth and the Life.”
I’ve endured so many that I should have a punchcard, a system that would offer a free procedure for every ten endured. Or frequent flyer medical miles posted to MyChart, the current tool used by doctors and hospitals to interface with patients.
Here’s a better suggestion, one that suits my lifestyle: travel as therapy could be covered by Medicare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Meanwhile, here are the first and last tunes from my most recent tube appointment. Interestingly, they’re both from the album titled Get Back. This is a message from me to the Lord, “Urge the team of physicians I’m compelled to see help me to get back my full health asap. Please and thanks.
Amen! Here’s to another fifteen years as a survivor and cancer free.
Yes, they should give you a punch card.
Thanks for your agreement but it ain’t gonna happen. I feel fortunate to have great insurance to cover all the expense!