First a quick note: PK asked for volunteer's to lead the discussion for today's date. My birth defective gene kicked in (AKA the Y chromosome) and I replied via email that I would gladly take August 9th's discussion. I could never fill PK or ZT's cross trainers but I will do my best even with my "defective" chromosome having such a strong influence on me.
and on to our discussion. drum roll please
How Do we build a new us physically? For many of us, after our treatment, our ability to function physically has changed (sometimes dramatically). How has everyone gone about building "the new you"? Did it start while you were still receiving treatment? or did you begin in earnest after your last day of treatment? Based on our past discussions that I have been a part of, I have learned from others here that helped me not only during treatment but even now 6 months after treatment has ended I find that some days I feel like a new cancer patient re-learning everything I thought I knew. Not just that coughs happen because of irritations caused by things other than cancer tumors, but also that I have to have more patience with my remaining lung as it tries to adjust to the new us.
I know what I have tried to do over the past 18 months. One thing I have definitely learned and can say with strong authority is this:
Although we might plan to have a linear plan of recovery, our bodies always seem to come up with a new and improved hidden "joker in the deck" that always seems to find that critical moment to flop down on the game table of our lives and "change those plans" whether we like it or not.
further discussion continued below the orange colored Rorschach's test.
Have you been able to tell any of those "Jokers in the deck of life" to go F*#K off; have you been able to continue with your personal master plan of recovery? How many times have your plans changed? Mine seem to change daily some weeks and not at all other weeks.
I know that what I have had to do is be willing to change plans with every new update to my condition. And lordy have I had to changes plans a lot over the last 12 months. From working out at the gym 5 days a week (before May's bout of pneumonia) to only working out 3 days per week now. From being able to walk on the treadmill at 3.4 MPH on a 5% slope for 30 minutes to now only 0.5 MPH with no slope until recently. I am now walking at the blistering pace of 0.7 MPH my hair is windswept at that speed if you watch carefully (and don't notice the fan in the corner of the room). laughs
So how is master plan of recovery working? have you had to change it? how often have you changed it? do you have a plan in place at all?
Let this evening's conversation begin.
Monday Night Cancer Club is a Daily Kos group focused on dealing with cancer, primarily for cancer survivors and caregivers, though clinicians, researchers, and others with a special interest are also welcome. Volunteer diarists post Monday evenings between 7-8 PM ET on topics related to living with cancer, which is very broadly defined to include physical, spiritual, emotional and cognitive aspects. Mindful of the controversies endemic to cancer prevention and treatment, we ask that both diarists and commenters keep an open mind regarding strategies for surviving cancer, whether based in traditional, Eastern, Western, allopathic or other medical practices. This is a club no one wants to join, in truth, and compassion will help us make it through the challenge together.