Trying to put it on a shelf

Last week I met a couple of women who recently completed their cancer treatment, and they said that one of the hardest things to adjust to was the expectation by their family, their friends, and even themselves, that they could just pick themselves up and take on all of their responsibilities. Treatment is over, so put the cancer on a shelf and move on. What they are finding, though, is that even after treatment is over, there are lingering side effects, exhaustion in particular, that sometimes interfere with them doing what is expected.

I sort of feel that way now. The mastectomy was 4 weeks ago today. I am back at work and taking care of the girls and the house and my husband, and just waiting for the test results. Life moves on while I wait, so I have to put the cancer aside. For me, this is a better way of dealing with the unknown than sitting around trying to predict the results.

However, I learned last night that, even with my "put it on the shelf" approach, there are consequences. Surgery sites get very sore and exhaustion sets in if we are not paying proper attention. So, while my approach alows me to not dwell on the cancer, I'm also not always listening to my body (here is where my family and friends are saying "DUH!").

So, today, I am slowing down (a little), doing my 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercise, stretching, drinking my Kombucha and backing off a bit. I'm learning, albeit slowly and reluctantly, that when I try to put the cancer on a shelf too early, it can fall off and land with a big thud, right on my chest!