“Stay strong.” At the start of my cancer journey, it was just a phrase. A phrase that was sent to me in text messages, added in reply to my Instagram posts, and written in the many cards I received. Stay strong. It was a phrase to encourage me to keep focused on the goal. A phrase that was repeated over and over.
Stay strong. It is only through experience that I have learned what it really means. Even the medical professionals encourage you to stay strong. But here’s what they don’t say.
Stay strong or you’ll suffer badly from the side-effects. Stay strong or things may get worse. Stay strong or your treatment may come to an end. Stay strong or you may need to go to the intensive care unit. Stay strong or the worst may happen.
But how does one stay strong physically, emotionally, and mentally? Here is what I have learned along the way.
Seek help. My medical team was fabulous and clearly outlined when I was to reach out and contact them if I needed help managing the side effects from chemotherapy. Regardless of whether it was day or night, help was only a phone call away.
Rest. If you’re tired, rest. If you’re not tired, REST! You will need your strength. Your body is doing important work even while you lay there.
Eat. If you’re hungry, eat. If you’re not hungry, EAT! Eating in and of itself was a job. There were many days I didn’t feel like eating, but I knew my body needed the energy.
Stay ahead of the side-effects. Stay ahead of the nausea by taking anti-nausea medicine hours before you get chemotherapy. Stay ahead of the pain by taking the pain medication hours before it starts. Do not wait until you’re feeling terrible. Once you’re unwell it’s hard to get back to any semblance of normal.
Advocate for yourself. Ask your doctor for back-up medication in case the prescribed medication does not work. I hate vomiting. I had three prescription medications to keep me from feeling nauseous. I also had additional medicine to take in case the first three did not work.
Exercise. You aren’t going to feel like working out, but even a short walk will be beneficial. Just get your body moving each and every day that you are able.
Get out of your head. Stay focused on the goal and try to be positive. This is not always easy. There were days when I was in a foul mood and I didn’t feel like being positive.
Being a cancer patient is a full-time job. I hope that none of you ever face this disease, but if you do, approach treatment and recovery like a job. The job is to stay as fit and healthy as possible. Do whatever it takes to accomplish the goal.
Be strong. Stay strong.
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