Scripted - Page 6 October 2020
Throughout my journey, I learned that my way of thinking was going to affect how I felt, how I responded and how I recuperated. I did my best to keep a positive outlook and a sense of humor. I learned to have a lot of patience and I also learned who my friends were vs. who were just my acquaintances. I want to offer some advice for those newly diagnosed or going through treatment. It’s important to have support and people around who truly care for you. Don't be afraid to cry, be scared or to join a support group. I went to a few meetings and that’s where I learned to journal, which really helped to capture my feelings. Make sure you obtain all the information about your diagnosis from your doctor and don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. The internet can be a wonderful tool to learn about your condition. Ask a lot of questions and try to be prepared for any side effects. For us women, one of the major side effects can be hair loss. I had started to recondition my hair two years earlier, and it had really grown out, nice and long. After my first round of chemo, I brushed my hair and half the side of my hair was in the brush. I just went to the barber and asked him to shave my head bald. The barber was sad after I told him why, but I was not upset or scared. The hair loss meant the medicine was working. I learned to love my bald head, and the only thing that I had to worry about was getting sunburn or frostbite. [smile] Throughout all of this, my faith has carried me through. It has helped me to look at things in a calm manner without being fearful. Sometimes, as I've learned over the years, you have to sit back and quiet yourself. Allow God to show you the way and tell you things. He will give you comfort. My faith has allowed me to keep my joy, along with spending time listening to music, dancing, exercising, reading scriptures, some television watching, walking outside when the weather is beautiful and just sitting outside and looking at the sky. The fact that I'm still alive makes me a survivor. I can look back over these 10 years of being free of treatment and having a great prognosis. But along the way, I’ve met new friends but also lost fellow cancer friends, too. I believe the Lord will keep a hedge of protection around me, along with knowing that anything could change within the blink of an eye. And if it does, I know my faith will sustain me. Marsha was raised in New York and Baltimore and currently calls Baltimore home. She’s a nurse and an author of “Fifteen Pounds, There is Only One You,” chronicling her cancer survival journey. Visit authormarshaturner.com.
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