THE PENNY PUB
Gaining Perspective About Pain in the Waiting Room
There is a life lesson in every corner
I am in my fourth week of radiation therapy for a stage zero breast cancer diagnosis. Going to the clinic and waiting in a room after changing into my robe has been part of the routine, along with reading my book or, more lately, chatting with other women in the room.
The interesting thing about cancer treatment is that business is “as usual” with other aspects of life. The home repairs need attention (as usual), the children quarrel with each other or need my help (as usual), and there is work that needs attention (as usual). In addition to all the “as usual” things, I have to tune in to my feelings and emotions and the changes I see in my body.
This week, I started to notice the cumulative effects of the radiation on my skin: inflammation, redness, soreness, darkening of my brown skin, and blackening of the pores. I’d reached a point of mental fatigue. I was then reminded of the time when I trained for a half marathon and how I had to push through the last few days of training to be ready for race day.
How many more sessions? My athlete’s brain started the countdown with Nike’s infamous “Just do it” attitude — four more to go.
