I did mention earlier, radiation and chemo side effects are not easy to deal with. Even for the strongest in the mind person.
And strange condition this is - All the problems / discomfort are caused by the treatment and not by the decease it self :)
So, in a quest to see what keeps the mind out of irritation during this phase, I gave up on finding a silver bullet. I am focusing on small silly fun stuff with friends, whoever is available during Chemo (and there are a few always ready to spend their time), count all blessings and good wishes, and acknowledge them. Take out individual thoughts in the head that could make me feel down, and openly ask for help.
Few examples :
Kids have not been going out any where this summer vacation. With continuous trips to hospital, wife being super busy with home and me, kids not getting to be kids. I went out and asked few close friends, if they do not mind taking the boys out for a cartoon movie or water park or anything. And few of them did come back happily to help.
Food, drink or thought there of is the biggest trigger of irritation but at the same time, most needed to keep the body up during this time. So, instead of feeling bad about asking around what I may be able to eat, I ve started being very prescriptive about what I would like to eat. And it helps my wife too in a way.
Spend a bit of time with the volunteers who come to cancer wards, counseling patients and their attendants. Their method, approach, noble intention, funding etc. Some of them starting to read betaalgyan: cancer diaries now !
My ex-boss went on a 3 days temple and puja trip, and came also with Rudrakhsha beads for me to use in my treatment. Blessing to have people think so much about you !!
Silly fun in the ward:
Many many years ago, pre-independence India, a lot of infant mortality was there. IN villages where our grand parents and parents grew up, out of every 4-5 deaths 1 kid used to survive infancy. Nutrition, hygiene, awareness, access - everything mattered. But one superstition was to their rescue !
They would always name the kids something un-holy, in those days it would me something filthy or from a very lower cast and all that. And the superstition went this way ! Even "Yama: the God of death" wont touch them. And the kids will survive. Well.. with a filthy name. Even my mom has one :)
So, when the doctors in the oncology, take no ownership of cure, we suggested them to raise awareness about this superstition - let name newborns "Sarcoma", "Carcinoma", "Carboplatin", "Cisplatin" :) No need to find cancer vaccination !!!
Bottom line : No silver bullet. Many things together to keep the mind off the irritation. I do get irritated once in a while, and unknowingly tell something harsh to wife and kids. Hope with conscious practice that will become nil over the period of treatment.
And strange condition this is - All the problems / discomfort are caused by the treatment and not by the decease it self :)
So, in a quest to see what keeps the mind out of irritation during this phase, I gave up on finding a silver bullet. I am focusing on small silly fun stuff with friends, whoever is available during Chemo (and there are a few always ready to spend their time), count all blessings and good wishes, and acknowledge them. Take out individual thoughts in the head that could make me feel down, and openly ask for help.
Few examples :
Kids have not been going out any where this summer vacation. With continuous trips to hospital, wife being super busy with home and me, kids not getting to be kids. I went out and asked few close friends, if they do not mind taking the boys out for a cartoon movie or water park or anything. And few of them did come back happily to help.
Food, drink or thought there of is the biggest trigger of irritation but at the same time, most needed to keep the body up during this time. So, instead of feeling bad about asking around what I may be able to eat, I ve started being very prescriptive about what I would like to eat. And it helps my wife too in a way.
Spend a bit of time with the volunteers who come to cancer wards, counseling patients and their attendants. Their method, approach, noble intention, funding etc. Some of them starting to read betaalgyan: cancer diaries now !
My ex-boss went on a 3 days temple and puja trip, and came also with Rudrakhsha beads for me to use in my treatment. Blessing to have people think so much about you !!
Silly fun in the ward:
Many many years ago, pre-independence India, a lot of infant mortality was there. IN villages where our grand parents and parents grew up, out of every 4-5 deaths 1 kid used to survive infancy. Nutrition, hygiene, awareness, access - everything mattered. But one superstition was to their rescue !
They would always name the kids something un-holy, in those days it would me something filthy or from a very lower cast and all that. And the superstition went this way ! Even "Yama: the God of death" wont touch them. And the kids will survive. Well.. with a filthy name. Even my mom has one :)
So, when the doctors in the oncology, take no ownership of cure, we suggested them to raise awareness about this superstition - let name newborns "Sarcoma", "Carcinoma", "Carboplatin", "Cisplatin" :) No need to find cancer vaccination !!!
Bottom line : No silver bullet. Many things together to keep the mind off the irritation. I do get irritated once in a while, and unknowingly tell something harsh to wife and kids. Hope with conscious practice that will become nil over the period of treatment.
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