HOW TO #FINISHCANCER TODAY, START AT THE RIGHT END OF THE PROBLEM

Every cancer patient wants to hear the same thing from a doctor: “The treatment was a success. You’ve had a full response. We see no sign of cancer existing where it had been.”

But getting to the finish line of cancer treatment reveals success and failure along the way.

#FINISHCANCER today by acknowledging a few common truths in the process.

#1 There’s no such thing as a common treatment

Every cancer stricken human entering into the bargain of cancer treatment knows the value of the second opinion.

Or should know the value of a second opinion. Or have an explanation of the benefits of a second.

The doctor in one one clinic explains things and it sounds like just the right medicine, so you sign up and get set to start.

Just to be a good medical consumer you get the second opinion and discover a better way forward. While it’s not all about green tea and anti-inflammatory herbs, it is about the right dose of treatment. Why not sign up?

The first guy prescribes three types of chemo therapy along with a pump to give cancer a good fry; the second guy prescribes only one of the chemo drugs the first guy included and no pump. So you change your mind.

The first guy still bills insurance $500 for the interview and clinic tour after the decline.

Ask the second doc, “Why the difference in treatment for the same thing?” and prepare for this:

“It’s a difference in philosophy.”

So it’s a philosophical question of why would anyone load up a frantic cancer patient with more chemo than needed?

Answer that question and start to #finishcancer.

#2 Stop explaining cancer like you expect us to understand the science

Cancer guys and gals want the same thing: #finishcancer.

I’m not sure how helpful it is to even try and understand the actions behind adoptive cellular immunotherapy treatment, but give it a try if it helps.

The specialists want to know if you’re up to the challenge by giving more details than you’ll ever understand. How do I know this? You’re not their first patient and they’ve seen people respond to the information given.

If you’re on board to kill cancer, act like it for the doctor’s sake. You might feel like a piece of meat in a waiting room, but it’s up to you to show what kind.

Are you a lamb chop? Flank steak? Pork roast? It’s okay to choose chicken. Don’t be the scraps on the floor that go into the sausage machine.

Staff have seen people change from alert and responsive to numb and frozen over the course of cancer treatment, show who you are from the beginning.

If the science part of discussions and interviews feel difficult because they’re too close to home, it’s because they’re as close to home as anything has ever been.

#3 Talk it out with your peers

If you’ve got loved ones, friends and family, work and worship folks, talk to them about the concerns and fears. They know you have them.

Once you’ve come out of the cancer closet you learn more about the people around you. Most of them know more about cancer than you because they knew someone, or someone they knew knew someone, of they had a cat, or a dog, or heard a story.

If you’ve always been a good listener, no problem. If you’ve always been a big talker, you’ve got new topics to expound on. But if you plan on hunkering down and enduring the physical and mental challenge to #finishcancer as it’s been defined for you, take heed.

You’ll hear about cancer from the most unusual sources and feel like you need to respond. And you probably should.

Manners still matter so be prepared to show some consideration even if you don’t feel like it.

If you have a mentor or guide when you start treatment, and they say, ” Cancer is like the elephant in the room. Do you hug it, punch it, throw it out?” listen to them. For some cancer is the ultimate moment of truth where they get to tell you how they really feel.

After that happens a few times it starts to sink in: It’s not all about you. So #finishcancer today.