Advocacy
A lymphoma diagnosis sends an avalanche of emotions into our lives. Suddenly we're surrounded by strangers who are asking us to make decisions without our fully understanding the consequences. Worse, cancer has its own language that most of us don't understand, at least in the beginning. All of this is frightening and overwhelming, and yet in the midst of it all, we must remember one thing: each of us cares about our own survival more than anyone else. And so we must become own best advocates. That's not always easy, but it's a part of this illness that we need to understand.
In order to advocate for ourselves, we must be clear about our goals. And that, of course, requires obtaining enough information to set goals. We need to understand that different doctors in different parts of the country have different philosophies on what’s "best," and there may be more than one type of treatment that’s "best" for you. Keeping up with information can be challenging, but it’s important to understand ALL the options you may have and then to decide what option is most comfortable for you, even if others challenge your decision.
Having the disease and being your own advocate consumes a lot of emotional energy, and it’s also important to take a mental break every so often. Do what you love - go golfing, go fishing, have a manicure or a massage - or whatever it is that you love to do. At least mentally, go wherever you can to find rest from cancer, and yes, I know how hard that is, but it’s important to strike that balance.
Most of all, understand ALL your options before setting your goals and never be afraid to ask questions. Your life depends on it.
Betsy