Differently Harder
This is getting harder. Don’t over-react. This is not a call for help. Read on.
This is getting harder but differently harder than I expected, emphasis on “differently.” I was prepared for it to be physically challenging. So far it has not been that challenging. I was prepared for it to be emotionally challenging. So far it is not.
I was not prepared for it to be such a time management challenge. The days go by in the blink of an eye. The 24-hour day that we all know feels to me like it has been reduced to six hours but with even more to do. And it’s simply because there is so much that goes into a day now. It took me weeks to figure this out until I ran the numbers on the nutrition program alone. To do what’s recommended and feels good, I have to average 100 calories every 20 minutes from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00, and the calories have to come from a very regulated set of whole food sources. The kitchen basically runs all day, preparing the next food drop. Toss in productive client work and some pitching in around the house, a little research into treatment best practices, and take a walk around the neighborhood or two with Kath and Piper and suddenly where did the day go?
Then there is stress management. It’s important to avoid stress as you work to beat cancer. Try doing that during a pandemic. The headlines are filled with growing case and death counts and we flounder to do anything at all to slow it down. And of course, the nation’s economy has taken a toll. Businesses have shuttered for good. Friends have lost their employment. AND it’s an election year, with nothing more than the soul of the nation in the balance. I take this stuff seriously so, it’s important to make time for stress reduction practices. Now go back one paragraph and see the conundrum.
Anyway, it’s been three weeks since my last post. I’m happy to report that I believe the treatment is very effective and I am tolerating it really well. But still, it’s been three weeks since my last post because I’m finding it more difficult than it was a few rounds ago.
8 thoughts on “Differently Harder”
So true! I once told a doc that cancer didn’t fit into my schedule very well. What a time hog.
Keep on doing what you’re doing; take back your time. 🙂
Thanks again for sharing Scott. Know that even when your days seemingly slip away- you are doing exactly what you should be doing at this point in time- eating to be strong, resting, letting your medical treatment work, recharging with walks with Kathleen- and escorting /slaying that headless cancer monster out the door. Stay positive as the days slip away…this crazy pandemic world is one day closer to COVID vaccine. And you are one day close to being cancer free.
Scott as always a great positive outlook. Not being exposed to someone close never knew what was going on other then chemo. Thank you for input. Sorry we could not exchange hello’s on Helen’s day . Very enjoyable and she gave us a brief update. She looks good and we are looking forward to next milestone. Keep the faith you have a big support group starting with Kathleen. 🙏😍BillS
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So glad that you’re tolerating the treatments so well and staying emotionally strong. Fighting cancer does become a “ground hog day” like existence. Anne and I tried to bust up the routine with lots of walks, talks, and educational series. Keep up the good fight Scott. Thinking of you, Kathleen, and all you’re duking it out for and with.
No need to put the weight of the world on your shoulders my friend. There will always be problems around, but you know what you need to direct your energies towards right now.
I haven’t personally fought cancer yet, but I’ve spent enough time in combat to know the importance of laughing at the ridiculous things around you – every day. Please have a good laugh today, and know how much we LOVE you and your beautiful family. You got this….
Lynch!
Catching up after a couple weeks, as are you.
Persistence and endurance alone are omnipotent…
When I saw the start of your post i thought of Napoleon (“In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one”) in terms of morale and keeping up your spirits in the face of challenges.
Then I saw the rest of it – yeah, that too, where does the day go? Cancer is a full time job (you didn’t mention insurance and pre-approved procedures…) and meanwhile life (job, family, care time) continues on. It’s the opposite of the Ferris Bueller experience (life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it) where life just goes zooming by while trying to pay attention.
And a thought: in addition to Burnie’s prayers and support pls search YouTube for “puny god” to watch Hulk beat the crap out of Loki (can you guess what the girls and I have been watching? and did you cry more at the soul stone scene or death of Tony Stark?).
Loki is your cancer, Hulk is you. Have at it…
Thinking of you – with random thoughts!
Scott you are doing it. Monday will only be positive conversation. I was in for my 5 year checkup. My oncologist okay I think we can do once a year checkups when your mammogram is due. Yae for this. Now to get my heart entirely fixed. Good luck to you and my love to all of you,