Thread by @oceanblue11oct

#diaryofacancersurvivor
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#Cancer
How I start my day :
6am -Thyronom tablets
9am- a PPI, 1 CCM, 1 Rocaltrol, 1 thiazide,Tapal (mild opioid for bone pains)
10 pm -2 CCM, 2 Rocaltrol, Pruvict, MGD3, 2 tab Tapal
10:30 pm - liq paraffin( a laxative since am on Tapal tab) 1/n

Say about 15 tablet every day. I can't miss my calcium and Rocaltrol even for a day ..
missing = death by rigor mortis within 2 days!

Last few weeks have been challenging! I was diagnosed with a rare skin auto immune dis order called Morphea, a firm of scleroderma! 2/n

While I was getting used to dealing with it, My left foot developed inflammation. Ortho visit was followed by an x-ray , in which a lytic lesion was picked up. Lesion...not a good diagnosis for me since I had follicular carcinoma with hurthle cell! 3/n

Then started the entire process of getting a malignancy affirmed or ruled out. As I lay on the table to get the MRI done, the technician came up and said " we will have to use a dye". The sight of the cannula , sent a shiver up my spine 4/n

( I have been poked so many times that the thought of an IV scares the living daylight out of me) .My heart beat stopped for a bit and I felt a vortex forming in the pit of my stomach! I know what this meant.5/n

There was something amiss! The first thought was " how will my already compromised body withstand the cancer treatment". I felt fear, I felt nauseous.....then I took a deep breath and told myself " come what may , I will chose NOT to take any more cancer treatment" .6/n

A day later , the report came in - no mets but something else going on in the foot! Ortho said more blood tests..... his diagnosis is "stress fracture" and I need to wear an Air boot for 6 weeks. But the nuclear medicine consultant wants to do a bone scan fear of malignancy 7/n

still hovering around) .
Air boot is BIG and uncomfortable ! The advantage is it will allow me to resume my routine once the body gets used to lugging around the extra weight! Bone scan is on Monday which is a few days away , till then my family and I wait apprehensively.8/n

Now in addition to the daily diet 😃 of 15 pills , I am on anti inflammatory meds and some supplements , 10 more ! Total of 25 pills in a day..in all this some of the doctors (non Oncologists) I met said
- u look ok
- body has immense capacity ( to take shit basically 9/n

NO ONE SAID " Vandana , we know how tough it is for you; whatever be the diagnosis we are with you; we will try to keep you as comfortable as possible ; yes we know you struggle; cancer is a disease that takes a huge toll for the rest of your life ; it's ok for you to feel 10/n

what you are going through"....no one said this!
No, I am not blaming them. Counselling is an acquired skill As it is, they handle so much treating so many patients ;counselling will be an additional burden on them. 11/n

I was speaking to an oncologist recently,he said " it's tough for me to counsel patients. It's not my area of expertise. " I am sure he speaks for most Oncologists( even clinicians) . That is why every Oncologist should have a psychologist/ counselor, psycho- Oncologist in 12/n

their team whom the patient/ survivor can consult.

Cancer , even when it's curative, takes a huge toll on the body and mind of the person! It's like a life long sentence that cancer patients have to learn to live with. 13/n

They need emotional support too ,which can ONLY be provided by a person trained in cancer counselling!
Hopefully 1day every Oncologist will have a cancer counselor/ psycho-oncologist on the team. Only when this happens, we can claim to 'Heal' the ones affected by cancer 14/n

I am mentally strong so am able to pull myself up...not all are.That is why for as long as am alive I will continue emotionally supporting cancer patients ! I will keep learning so that I get better skilled at doing so. 15/n