My wife didn’t get scared when diagnosed with breast cancer; she got informed. Right after her first visit with the oncologist she bought an e-book online for her reader. She learned about this kind of breast cancer which turned out to be somewhat rare.
She learned about chemotherapy and exactly what was in that stuff. What did it feel like as it dripped into her body, and why did it have to be a slow drip? Other fluids entered her body to ease the discomfort of the moment and to try to prevent the nausea. A port would be inserted into her chest so her body would not be stuck in a different place each time.
She learned there would be a delayed reaction to the treatment. The first day wasn’t so bad, but then the chemical effects came on like gang busters. Her hair first would itch, then hurt and then fall out between the fourth and sixth week. The book included interviews with patients about their reactions to the therapy. We talked about it and what she wanted to do about it. We went wig shopping. She had a pre-emptive haircut. Back in the sixties it was called a pixie.
The mastectomy will come after the chemotherapy has reduced the cancer so there would be a better chance to get it all. She said she would prefer to have both breasts removed when the time came so she wouldn’t be lopsided. The insurance might not pay for both. She decided she can put up with being lopsided.
She can live with that. Literally. She can live with that.