Ode to Pavlov

Today I found out about another poor soul diagnosed with the "C" word. A teacher at my youngest's daycare has a daughter who was just diagnosed with lymphoma. Hearing the news brought me back to the day I was diagnosed.

Interestingly enough, I was informed I had breast cancer when I was technically at a business luncheon. The truth of the matter, I was with three women I work with and luckily am extremely close to. My colleagues knew I was waiting for a phone call but we all assumed it would be a phone call to set up an appointment to let me know the results of my biopsy. I answered the call on my cell phone and ran to the women's room so I could arrange what I assumed would be an office visit to happen that day. The "diagnosis counselor" I was working with proceeded to tell me on the phone in the bathroom at a restaurant that yes, I had breast cancer. From the very beginning I was put in the position to treat my diagnosis as casually as receiving a phone call at lunch. I know it sounds horrible but the manner in which I received my diagnosis set the tone for how I approached my treatment.

The probability of developing breast cancer in a woman's lifetime is 1 in 8 according to the American Cancer Society. So why do we all have such a Pavlovian response to a cancer diagnosis? When I heard about my daycare teachers daughter today I responded the same way I see people initially respond to my news. Almost as if it were a death sentence. We all go right to the worst case scenario. None of us can help our instinctual response to a cancer diagnosis. So many of us have lost loved ones to the horrid disease. But after delving into the literature on breast cancer treatment thanks to incredible advances made as little as three years ago the outcome of such a diagnosis is night and day compared to what it was 20 years ago. We have come a long way baby!

My heart goes out to this young daughter diagnosed with lymphoma. I have a "chemo buddy" who kicked the ass out of lymphoma, I wish the same for her. My advice would be keep a kick ass attitude and buckle up for the ride because you will be brought to an emotional and physical state few ever see.

To everyone following this blog. Each and every one of you represent a building block of my support network. Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you know of any person who may be in need of support during a difficult time forward them on to me. Misery loves company! Strength in numbers!

Thank you