Dollarama Cancer Club

It’s amazing how often the C-word comes up during the day. Billboards, radio, newspapers, T-Shirts, and bumper stickers. Or, from the lady who’s trying to steal the last green bowl from Dollarama.

It was Friday afternoon and I was flying through the store, trying to buy some bowls.  It was a favorite friend’s birthday, and we were heading up north,  to her surprise pig roast/pot luck for 150 people. I was making pesto pasta salad and was looking for bowls that would show off dish and make it look pretty. Secretly, I wanted mine to be the best looking dish on the table.

In the bowl aisle was a stocky woman who was reaching unsuccessfully for the top shelf. ‘Can I help you?’ I asked.  Waving one chubby hand in the air, she told me that she couldn’t reach the shelf.  Then she told me that the reason she couldn’t reach it was because she’d had cancer. I would argue, that she couldn’t reach because she was short. But she elaborated, and at times, her Eastern European accent was so thick that I could barely make out what she was saying. 

Turns out she’d had a couple of surgeries, and was no longer nimble. I told her I understood.  Then she said, somewhat apologetically, that the cancer was also to blame for her hair being so thin.  Her hair was indeed a bit sparse, and because I could look down on her I could see a lot of scalp – but bless her heart – she’d given herself a perm and dyed it red, the same colour as her lipstick.

‘I went through chemo too.’ I told her. Her eyes bulged. ‘You did?! But your-a hair is so thick!’  I tried not to gloat. Inside though, my heart was swelling with pride. I haven’t had a ‘thick hair’ comment since last summer, and it was long overdue.

Then I saw the bowl that I wanted. It was apple green on the outside, and white on the inside (A bargain at $1.25!) and would certainly compliment my pasta. It was perfect. I grabbed it, and then  grabbed a second one.

'That’s a nice bowl,’ said the lady. ‘Its-a what I want for my salad. It’s-a pasta’.  Uh-oh! ‘Are there more?’ she asked. I told her no. ‘I’m going to a barbeque,’ she told me. I nodded. ‘Tomorrow night,’ she said,  ‘For my son’s-a birthday.’

Barbeque.  Potluck. Birthday. Chemo. Saturday night.  There were definite similarities. But I didn’t want to share my bowls. There was a whole wall of bowls but I had the only two green ones in my hot little hand, and I intended to use them.

Then she lifted up her shirt. ‘Look-a at my scar.’ Across her round belly was a pink line about 14 inches long.  ‘They-a said it spread like Octopus. But it’s shrinking. It keeps a-shrinking. I’m-a going on-a Thursday for my test results. I’m-a very nervous and my husband won’t-a talk to me about it. He just watches TV.’

Okay! I couldn’t stand it anymore. She’d won. Her scar was worse, her prognosis was worse, and her crappy husband was the final straw. I handed her my green bowls. She smile up at me and asked if I thought her tomato fusilli salad would look good in them, or, if she should get the fake cut crystal bowls (a bargain at $1.50). Well, I honestly thought that her pasta salad would look better in fake cut crystal, and I reached up and handed them to her. She thanked me, and asked if she should get one or two. Two, I told her. Then she told me that she couldn’t concentrate because all she thought about were her tests. ‘Pray for me,’ she said. I gave her a hug, and told her that I would. Then I took my green bowls in left.  I haven't thought much about her until today.

But it's a-Thursday, and I’m-a praying.

Cancer Do's

Recently I wrote (whined) about a friend who I ran into who seemed very concerned about me, but had been ‘too busy to call’. In my defence, she had twelve months in which to do it. In her defence, maybe she didn’t really like me. Regardless – it was just my opinion of ‘what not to say’ to someone who has had a really bad year.

Cancer Don't

There are other things you shouldn’t say to a friend the first time you acknowledge their canceritis situation. ‘How ARE you?’  is top of the list. Especially with puppy dog eyes often found in black velvet paintings. It’s like asking why the earth is round, or why there were two different Chris’s on the Partridge Family. It’s too complicated, and nobody really knows the answer.

The other thing to avoid is, ‘I’m SO sorry’. Sure you’re sorry – but not as sorry as I am! Also, saying ‘I’m sorry’ is the same thing you would say to someone dealing with the death of a loved one. It’s bleak, depressing, and way too passive for such a big disease. Avoid that one at all costs.

So according to me, the very best thing you can say someone who has been diagnosed with canceritis is this. ‘What can I do?’ Not only is this pro-active, but it can be answered honestly and sincerely. Often the answer is ‘nothing at the moment’ and ‘thank you for asking’. But at least the notion is out there that things that can be done, dammit!

Cancer is a very solitary business. No matter how many people surround you, you alone been plucked out of the nest like a baby sparrow, and plopped into the centre of a volcano. When people offered to join the party, I felt immediately stronger.

I never wanted sympathy, and I must admit, that I never really got any. I got a whole lot of ‘what can I do’s’ and ‘ call me if you need anything’s’, ‘how can I help?’, and ‘What can I make.’

I hope nobody ever has to acknowledge a friend’s diagnosis. But the likelihood is that you will. So might as well be prepared, rather than sorry.

Dr. Who?

Evelyn was not happy to see me standing in her doorway. Evelyn is my Oncologist’s secretary, and between the two of them they are about as inviting as a couple of frozen pork chops.

I’d called Evelyn earlier in the week requesting an appointment for a mammogram. Evelyn of course, hadn’t called me back. This was no surprise as she made it clear very earlier on, that communication was not her strong point.  So I did what I always did, and went down to the hospital in person. ‘Hi,’ she said uncomfortably. I stood in front of her and told her what I wanted. She made some sort of gurgly sound and said, ‘Well, uh, I don’t know about that’. 

Considering the fact that I was supposed to be ‘closely monitored’ due to my higher risk factor, her reaction wasn’t very reassuring. ‘Maybe in six months’, she said.  Then she started shuffling files that may have been important, though it looked like an excuse to get rid of me.

I must confess, that after my last radiation appointment, I went home with the intention of sleeping for three months. I had no interest in seeing the inside of a waiting room for a very long time, nor did I ever want to take my shirt of under a fluorescent light. I needed a break. But then my stylist (Jim) casually said, ‘When’s your next check-up?’ I got out my well-used appointment book, and saw that the pages for the next few months were pristine. Though I have been taking care of myself, I realized it was time to find someone with better credentials to take get back on board.

‘Who is my doctor?’ I asked the frozen pork chop. She looked up at me. ‘Who do when I go to when I need to be looked after, or when I want to book an mammogram.’ She did some more fake-filing and told me I should book my mammograms through my surgeon’s secretary. ‘Try book with them,’ she said, ‘ and if you run into problems, you can call us.’ Bullsh*t! I wanted to say. But instead, I turned and left her office.

Dr Escargot’s secretary is much nicer. She (Jenny) was on the phone when I burst into her office, but she seemed more overworked than frosty. I sat awkwardly while she wrapped up her phone conversation with another patient, and I surmised that this patient was just diagnosed - which sent shivers down my spine.  It never stops. But while she was on the phone I tried to use my time wisely. I remembered something I read in Cosmo (or some waiting room magazine) about exuding confidence, and I tried to sit up straight, keep my shoulders down, and my arms away from my body in a relaxed yet powerful manner.

Finally Jenny hung up the phone. ‘Remember me?’ I chirped. She looked at me over her thick glasses. ‘You look familiar’, she said kindly. Familiar? To be honest, I was kind of surprised. I’d spent many hours talking to Jenny pre-surgeries, and I thought we had a connection. They were some of the most profound moments of my life! But to her, I supposed, I was just another patient. I felt a little deflated by her remark. I felt like I’d been kicked out of the club. Or, like I’d just snubbed by an ex-boyfriend.

I reintroduced myself. (Don’t be fooled by the short curly hair!) Then I told her I wanted to book a mammogram and she sighed, and spun her chair around to reach for my file. ‘You’ve got one next year,’ she said. That wasn’t good enough, I wanted one this year. So I said to her,  ‘Who is my doctor?’

She looked baffled. I continued, ‘Who do I go to when my rib cage is hurting or when I have numbness in my arm?’  ‘Well, she said, ‘You could try your GP. Or you could call your oncologist, I guess. And if you can’t reach anyone, I guess you can try us.’

There are times when I get so exasperated that I feel like my IQ dips into the single digits. I don’t have the tools to absorb big concepts, or big words. I like simple things. ‘Jenny’ I said ‘Who is the first person I should call when something is wrong. Tell me the order of who I should talk to.’

She pondered, and sighed. ‘Okay. Call us first. I guess. And then we’ll assess you and see who you should talk to next.’ Though unsatisfactory, at least her answer was clear. Nobody is taking charge here. And since someone needs to be in control, I ‘ve elected myself. Summer break is over. 

Dr. Janet is in the house.

Baby Rhoda

Rhoda Morgenstern was my favorite TV lady when I was growing up. Not only was she a straight talking New Yorker, but she really knew how to rock a headscarf.  Plus she was Jewish, which, at the time, made her seem even more exotic. I never quite understood what she saw in Mary Richards but it gave me hope that one day I too would have such a groovy friend.

So I was very pleased when my sister told me that I reminded her of Rhoda. I’ve taken to wearing headscarves and my sister pointed out the similarity. Then she elaborated, ‘Well you look kind of like a Chinese baby cus your hair is standing up on end. But a Chinese Baby-Rhoda.” I told her that I thought I looked more like an ostrich. Yes, she said. ‘But an Ostrich crossed with Rhoda. And a Chinese Baby.’

Unlike Rhoda, I have very little hair. Mine is short in the front, curly in the middle, and a bit mullet-y in the back. Or as my stylist Jim said, I have a ‘little claw’ in the front, and ‘some Amy Winehouse sh*t going on in the middle’, and an ‘I’m not sure what’s happening’ in the back. Stylish, it is not.

So I depend on the scarves to tame all my crazy hairs. Gel isn’t really doing the trick, and my temples are still bald, so scarves seem to be the answer. Unlike Rhoda, who liked to cover her entire scalp with a scarf, I tie mine around my head like a hair band. The whole head-cover, which looks great on some people, always reminds me of the ladies at Princess Margaret, and it is a look I vehemently avoid.  And a scarf/band does a good job squishing the ‘Amy Winehouse middle sh* while covering my bald temples at the same time.

More importantly, it gives me confidence.  My hair is no longer freakishly short, and with the scarf it looks like a proper hair-do. Maybe not quite appropriate for my face, but a hairdo nonetheless. With my big glasses and colourful accessories, I look just as brash as Rhoda, though inside I’m still me . So when I meet people for the first time, I feel like I’m dressed up for Halloween.

Last week I went out for dinner with a short haired friend. Even though she has three times more hair than me, hers is still pretty short. Yet it is lovely, and stylish, and suits her pretty face. Our waitress also had short hair. With her high cheekbones, and olive skin, she would have been a fool not to keep it cropped.

I was wearing  a blue scarf which was knotted at the back  of my neck, the ends hanging down just below the collar of my blouse. At the end of the night the waitress told me that she really loved what I was doing with my hair. It’s been so long that I’ve had a hair compliment that I automatically assumed she was talking to my friend. It took a moment to realize that it was for me, and I slowly came round in the way that you would if you’d been on a lunch break for the last ten months. I think my mouth was hanging open, and I may have said ‘Huh?

‘Your scarf is great,’ she said, ‘I feel inspired to do the same with my own hair’. I channelled my inner Baby Rhoda, and mustered up a confident ‘thank-you’.  As though I was a brash New Yorker living in an funky Minneapolis attic, and dressing windows for a living.  As though I was a baby fashion icon, as though I get compliments all the time.

East Coast Pat Down

On the way home from my favorite place, I was selected for the super-inspection from airport security. I was flying from Halifax, and after de-belting and de-shoeing, I still set off  al the buzzers. Having no metal on my person, I was surprised by all the commotion, and thought that maybe I was being penalizied for not purchasing a carry-on lobster from the airport fish store. Jim and I seemed to be the only ones who hadn’t bought any crustacean souvenirs.

But a very nice lady took me aside, and told I’d been selected to for an uber-check. She seemed conscious of the fact that this was a minor inconvenience. She also seemed to recognize the fact that I wasn’t a terrorist.

I had two options: a good old fashioned east cost pat down, or being enclosed in a giant tube, reminiscent of the one built for the Chilean Miners. I looked at the tube, with its’ exterior screen, and wondered who would be looking at me naked. What if I was be looked at by the airport perv?  Would he be able to glimpse beneath my Levi’s, and would he notice I had a-symmetrical breasts?  

‘Who does the the pat-down?’ I asked the nice lady. ‘Me’ she said.  ‘That’ll be fine,’ I said, thinking that she reminded me of my old kindergarten teacher –so how bad could it be.  Then her next question, ‘Would you like to do it here, or in private?’

At that, I froze. ‘Why would I want privacy?’ I asked, my voice a little higher than I intended. She explained that some people prefer not to be inspected in front of the general public. I looked at the line up of people behind me, tan happy faces carrying a box of overpriced lobster. My voice rose another half octave. ‘I keep my clothes on, right?’ She nodded and reached for her box of rubber gloves. ‘Right?!?’ I squeaked.

‘Have you had any recent surgery?’ She asked.  I paused. She looked at me kindly. ‘Anything tenderness I should be aware of? ‘ I paused again. ‘Sorry,’ she said, ‘But I have to ask’. I thought for a moment about my occasional breast pain and numbness in my right arm – and realized how often they pop up in my thoughts.  But there are always people worse off then me. There are people with brand new kidney’s for God’s sake – though they’re probably not driving the Cabot trail.

Now – while I have developed a certain intimacy with medical professionals, I’m not used to being fondled by a lady in uniform. But part of my brain has learned to click off when I’m going to be manhandled. After all, I’ve been to over 100 doctors appointments the last year alone, and most of those were topless. So I clicked on that new brain-part, and surrendered myself to a frisking.

She patted my arms and legs and gently tapped around my back and shoulder. Not bad. In fact, quite pleasant. ‘That feels kind of good,’ I told her. I wanted to ask her if she could go a bit higher and get at the area between my shoulder blades, but she had a whole line up waiting for her services. Jim, who was busily reattaching his belt looked at me with something akin to longing.

Of course, the whole thing could have been unpleasant. But it wasn’t. But sometimes things are fun when you allow them to be. Especially in Nova Scotia.

A Favorite Place

A Favorite Place

Cape Breton is somewhere I often go, thanks to Belleruth Naparstek’s Guided Meditation CD, which take me my ‘favorite places’.  Last week, thanks to West Jet, I went there again for real.

It had been just over a year since we'd been there, and had a visit to the to church. The little white church is in Orangedale, and it was where my grandfather preached as a minister for 24 years. It is a very small building, as it is in a very small village, with a population of about one hundred or so. The town has a store and a post office, and not a whole lot else, except some people who are very dear to me.

On last year's visit, I sat on a wooden pew thinking about my future. Specifically, if I had one.  I was pretty certain that things would be okay, but on very rare occasions, I’d imagine a petulant little voice saying, ‘Says who?’ It was the very early days of my diagnosis and all we new was that the tumour was for real, and it was the bad kind. In fact, the day before I left the city, my doctor phoned, and said, ‘its worse than we thought’.

So I sat in the pew and thought about stuff. I thought that being in that little wooden church would give me a direct line to my father, the son of my grandfather, and told him that I hoped he was happy wherever he was, and that he had lots of people to hang out with, because he wouldn’t be seeing me in his world for a while. And I asked my grandfather, very humbly, to put in a word with his big boss, to leave me here with my family. And then I had to apologize for not having being in church for the last twenty years, except to go to the occasional wedding and my cousin’s daughter’s christening. Even then, all I thought about was the warm white wine and crustless sandwiches that would be my reward.  Given my crummy track record, I didn’t think I had the right to favours, but on this occasion it didn’t hurt to ask.

Many of the pews were empty.  Jim sat on one side of me, and my Orangedale family on the other. They didn’t know that there was anything different about me. Jim however, did. But the information was so new, and so startling, that we didn’t know how to process it. Sometimes it was easily forgotten, and other times, it had huge importance. And sometimes, when we were looking at the eagles,  we just plain forgot.

But that Sunday morning I couldn’t forget. I’d never had the experience of being in church and wanting so badly to connect. I like church, but I’m not religious.  I have no solid convictions, but I like being somewhere that is a force for good. And as may have mentioned, I’m fond of crustless sandwiches, especially the egg.  So I sat there, feeling tiny in the universe, and waited for the minister to take his place.

When the minister made her entrance, she did it in a way that only a Cape Breton minister could. With warmth, and greetings, and a lot of cheery chit-chat about the day. She was about 50, and walked down the aisle with a cloud of energy – sort of like Pig Pen with his cloud of dirt – only instead of dirt there was glee. She was stilla student of theology, and had only recently started giving sermons.  I like to think that she left her old life in a red convertible with only a suitcase, but who knows. It’s all about second chances, anyway.

Then she stood at the front of the wee congregation and adjusted her robes, in the manner of someone who looked down and was surprised to notice a gown and collar. And then she started talking.  Well, this was no grandpa’s sermon form 1974. This gal was having a great old time. She was clearly happy about life, and even fist pumped a few times as she talked about the villagers' small victories. And then she got serious for a second and wish us all peace. She cast her kind gaze around the room and prayed for everyone who had ‘an illness, or a hardship’.  And then I swear that her sparkly eyes rested on me as she offered a prayer for, ‘anyone  waiting for a diagnosis’.

I felt like the lamb in a biblical painting, under a beam of light.  Or Maxwell Smart, listening to the words of Chief under the cone of silence. Her words felt they were directed me. Or maybe that is the power of church, to allow each individual to receive his or her comfort. I didn’t know what would happen, or even what the future held, but I knew in my heart that I was being looked after and that things would be okay.

It was last Monday when we drove back into the little town to join the Orangedalers for supper.  Jim and I came bearing a couple of pies, a bag of beer, and matching ostrich hairdos. Nothing seemed to have changed, but I don’t want to be too quick to say that, since the town could say the same thing about me. 

Kathleen's Ktichen

But before visiting, we drove down the hill to take a look at the little white church. There was nobody there, and the building not open.  The double front doors were pressed tightly together, like someone holding their hands over their heart.  Though I’ve known this church for over 40 years, it had taken on a new meaning for me and I felt I was beginning to understand its’ importance.  My dad had grown up in that church. Births and deaths had both been celebrated under that roof, and a community was held together. And when I was ready to let it, it welcomed me in and shared its hope and certainty.

I said a little thank you to the small wooden building and headed back up the hill. On Maple Drive other beacons awaited. So we headed up to Kathleen’s kitchen to another form of worship; a freshly cooked lobster, potato salad, and a cup of melted butter.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Until recently, my new best friend was my rear view mirror. For a cheap thrill, I’d take a quick glance and admire my new eyelashes from top to bottom. I’ve had them for a few months now, and I’ve been prouder than Archie Andrews showing off his red Ford Model T Jalopy to Veronica Lodge. My mascara tubes, which I used over the winter is still abundant, as I only had one or two lashes on which I lavished attention. So seeing my eyeball fully framed with lashes filled me full of glee.

However, I saw my reflection recently and was surprised to find that there was mascara all over my face. The person looking back at me looked like they’d just woken up in the sand after a late night of doing B-52 shots at a beach party. High school all over again. But, I chalked it up to a recent heat wave and gave myself a good scrub.

Later that day, and back in my car, I took a quick look in the mirror. I looked paler than usual and a bit pasty. Of course my mascara coming off would have explained a lot of that, but something was different. And then I realized that I hardly had any lashes. My tiny, but magnificent hairs were all but gone.  

I’ve heard of that happening. Ladies I’d spoken with have reported that their lashes fell out twice. One during chemo, then, following a quick regrowth, falling out again. Though I’d heard about it – I didn’t expect it to happen to me. Grrr. My whole face had been planned around my friggin’ eyelashes. The only way I can get by with my ridiculously short bangs is to have hair in the middle of my face.  And it’s not just cosmetic (but mostly). Eyelashes are very good at keeping tiny particles out of one’s eyeballs. And they serve as radar that something is nearby the eyeball, automatically forcing the lid shut should there be some sort of peril, in the manner of a sharp pencil, or the fizz from a bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

I thought back to that morning, and how I’d applied my mascara. (Paraben free! Not tested on animals!). How could I not have noticed my sparse lashes? And how cruel that they could fall out again virtually overnight. It’s a nasty turn of events that I lost my most valuable hairs, rather than say – oh – the ones on my big toe that were a post chemo bonus.  The good news is that they’ll grow back. The bad news is that once again I look like a giant thumb with teeth and a headscarf.

But I’ll get over it, and work my way around it as I’ve managed to do for the last year. So for now, it’s back to giant sunglasses. And avoiding my rear view mirror. Unless of course, I choose to check for traffic.

Cancer Stinks

Animals can smell cancer. This has been well documented, and was described to me by a woman who I met at my one-and-only group therapy session. She had a dog, and said that it would lie on her chest and sniff her left breast. She had already been through cancer three years previously, and assumed that he was sniffing at the residue of history. Not so. Her cancer had recurred and the dog was the first to notice. At the time that I met her, she was waiting for her test results. The fact that the tumour was malignant was certain, and she was waiting to learn the severity of the invasion.  Scary stuff.

I rarely think about recurrence. I’ve had all sorts of treatments, with one more to come, and in an effort to keep my recurrence rate down to the absolute minimum I’ve upped my coniferous vegetables, and am trying to cut down on booze and stress. Not to mention flax, all natural make-up, exercise, and therapy. 

The Face of a Genius

So I was quite alarmed with Jed lay down on top of me and started sniffing at my breast. It was last week, during the heat wave, and I came home from work and sprawled on the couch. Not in a pretty way, either. Basically sitting with my arms flung out, and my ass sliding off the bottom of the seat with my chin resting on my chest.  I also happened to be in Jed’s spot, and he was a bit pissed, so he jumped up and stared at me. Then he started sniffing. And when he gets a scent, his little eyebrows furrow, his whiskers start to wiggle, and his sniffing gets pretty intense. He inhaled a series of very quick deep hound-sniffs. And I was paralyzed. (Well, as paralyzed as one can be when lying like a rag doll who has been flung on the sofa, with a hairdo that looks like it’s been through a washing machine). But I was frozen – and stayed that way for about 30 seconds, seized by the first grip of fear of felt in about six months.

Then Jed stopped, and sighed, and plunked his big droopy head down on my white blouse and looked up at me with his bloodshot eyes. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Worried? Satisfied? Protective?

Later that day I was checking myself out in a mirror. As usual, my hair needed flattening and I was covered in dog hair. (But apart from that, lovely!) Then I noticed a brown speck on my shirt. After trying to wipe it away, I realized that the speck was actually inside my pocket. I plucked it out, and it was a piece of cookie! I nearly laughed out loud. What Jed smelled was not canceritis returnis, but just a tiny remnant of my afternoon snack – a morsel of a ginger cookie.

Knowing that the source of Jed’s interest was now between my fingers, and not actually inside of me, made me giddy. Jed of course had known that all along, and was waiting outside the washroom door for his reward. Which he got of course, because dogs are so much smarter than we. 

PS For all you cat lovers out there,  here’s a story about a cat who predicted 50 deaths in a retirement home. It’s either funny/morbid/scarey, depending on your mood.

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2835787/Oscar-the-cat-can-smell-death.html

Too Busy to Call

‘I’ve been meaning to call you,’ said an acquaintance, by way of greeting, when I ran into her on the street. ‘I’ve heard about what’s going on, and I meant to call.’ My brain, temporarily paralyzed, couldn’t come up with any big words. So I said, ‘Oh.’ But she wasn’t finished yet, ‘Yeah, I’m so sorry, but I’ve been really busy.’ And then, like a bad velvet painting, she opened her eyes, cocked her head to one said, and said, ‘How ARE you?’

Now this is a woman I quite like, and have socialized with on many occasions. We’re not besties or anything, but we’ve acknowledged each other’s birthdays, and shared several bottles of red wine.  Frankly, I was a little surprised that I never heard from her. Canceriitis is a big deal, and even people who I don’t like (and may not like me) have come out of the woodwork to offer their support. Nevertheless, I would never hold this against her. Nobody is obligated to call. The support I’ve received was more touching and incredible than I could ever have imagined, and everyone has their reasons for how they choose to connect.

So the fact that she didn’t call doesn’t bother me - I just thought her excuse was bullsh*t. If she truly wanted to call, she could probably have found one minute somewhere in the 365 days since I received my diagnosis. Had she said she’d been ‘meaning to climb Kilimanjaro’ but was ‘too busy’ I would be more understanding. I would sympathize with the intense physical training, the necessity of tracking down a reliable sherpa, and the search for some really cool snow pants. But a phone call only takes a minute, and assuming that she sleeps eight hours a night, she’s had a total of 350,400 minutes since my diagnosis to dial my number.

So the fact is, she probably didn’t want to call. And if that’s the case, it’s better not to say anything at all because a bad excuse is really insulting. She may have had an ultra busy year, but I know for a fact that she found time to watch Dancing with the Stars, and that means that in terms of importance, Chaz Bono rates higher than me.

So ‘too busy to call’ didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy. It didn’t make me feel anything but insulted. 'Nice to see you!’ would have been a far superior greeting, and hopefully it would have been true. I also would also have been happy with, ‘How are you?’ or the more preferable, ‘You have hair!’

Eventually my acquaintance and I started a conversation, and she was starting to fill me in on all the details of her fabulous life when she was distracted by a jingling in her purse. ‘Shit,’ she said digging around in her gigantic handbag, ‘That’s me.’ Finding her phone, she checked the incoming number and said, ‘I’m so sorry, I have to take this, but I’ll just be a second. Please, don’t go away.’

Seriously?!  I was supposed to stand there while she displayed how easy it was to press the buttons on the phone? No can do, sister. Gotta go. I’m too busy to wait.

Ostrich Hair

When I was a baby my hair stood straight up on end. My mother enjoys this story, and lovingly tells about using Bryll Cream in an effort to tame my whispy locks.  It didn’t work though, because my hair refused to lie down. I’ve seen the pictures, and I was adorable!

Eventually my hair thickened into a rich, thick, glossy brown mane and, and became (next to my excellent ankles), one of my best features.  Then of course, I shaved it off, became a baldy, and spent the winter with stubbles and a wig. Now, I’m happy to report that I have full coverage. It came in quite gray, but is now a rich (bottle) not-so-natural chestnut.

It is however, quite whispy. After all, it is baby hair. And like the baby hair of my youth, it stands straight up on my head. No matter what I do, and no matter how hard I try, my hairs have no interest in reclining. They stand up straight up as though they’d been yelled at, and I look like Don King, or perhaps a baby ostrich.

‘Hey Alfalfa.’ said Jim, as he walked by me over the weekend.  I nodded glumly, and sat patiently as he patted down my hair, then watched it jump back to attention. He did it a couple of times, then wandered away whistling merrily, buoyed by all the fun he’d just had.

On Saturday night we went to a party and I knew I couldn’t go out wearing my hat. Firstly it’s filthy, and secondly it’s too tight. I think my head is getting fat, and I’m tired of having hat marks on my forehead at the end of the day. So I took great pains with my hair. I got the blow dryer out of hibernation and fired it up. Because my hair is so fine, it was dry in less then 4 seconds, and ready to party. It tried patting it dry – but to no avail. So I drove to the drugstore, loaded up on few styling gel, and poured it on my hairs.

With half a pound of gel, it did indeed stay down, but I looked like a 60’s mobster. Jim suggested it would be more stylish if I brushed my bangs down in front, rather than try to hide them. I had to break it to him that I  I don’t actually have any bangs, as the hair directly above my forehead is still on vacation.

Later that night I was sitting on my bar stool with a tumbler of wine while an acquaintance stared at my head. I have a pretty good-sized cranium, and without much hair, I feel like a giant light bulb ‘Your hair is short,’ she said. There was a small silence while I sipped my drink and she continued the examination, searching for the positive. Finally she brightened, ‘Hey, you have a dimple!’

I took out my old baby picture, and sure enough, there it was. God, I was adorable. And with my middle-aged eyesight, the baby in the picture didn’t look much different than the lady in the mirror. Giant head, horizontal hair, chubby arms, and the dimple. However the baby in the mirror didn’t look so self-conscious. And why should she? She was oblivious to hats and blow-dryers, and had yet to be slathered with Bryll Cream. Baby Janet didn't think about the way she looked at all, and cared about what was in front of her, rather than ostrich hairs on top.

So I’m trying to take a page from my own book and enjoy what’s ahead - without waiting for my feathers.

A Shrink in Shiny Shoes

The first thing I noticed about the new lady psychiatrist was that we were wearing the same sandals. I took this as a good sign and said cheerily, ‘We’re wearing the same shoes!’ She glanced briefly at my feet and said sternly, ‘Similar. Not the same.’ 

Tomato

As I don’t not like do be corrected so early on in the conversation, I took this as a bad sign. True, her shoes were Birkenstocks and mine are Mephisto’s but really…tomato, to-matto. My old shrink, with her homely black ankle socks would probably would have acknowledged the similarities. But unfortunately she’s not around anymore because I fired her.

There was nothing really wrong with my old shrink, apart from her socks, but I didn’t feel like we had a connection. And, she said a few things that I thought were more hurtful than helpful and I stopped enjoying her company. I wish I could say that I stood up and screamed ‘You’re Fired!’ but I politely called her secretary and hesitantly told her that we weren’t a good fit.

To-matto

But I was game to try someone else. Those who I trust say that the year following canceritis treatment is often more difficult than the treatment itself, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have some back up. And to be perfectly honest, I sort of enjoy talking about myself for fifty minutes. It’s like dredging a lake – if you do it long enough, something is going to come up.

But I couldn’t get past the shoes. Take any two women, anywhere in the world who have matching footwear and they are going to have a bond. (Even my radiation technologist wanted to talk about shoes. She almost peed herself when I showed up in a pair of Geox sport shoes).  But this gal was going to make it very clear that this was not an even playing field.  It was sort of like trying to break ground with the cool kids from high school. Wasn’t going to happen. She just sat in her chair cross-legged, notepad in her lap, one silver foot on the ground, and one silver foot swaying gently in the air.

The rest of the hour didn’t get much better.  I felt too uncomfortable to get to the nitty-gritty stuff, so she might have been a bored.  However I did tell her that I was having difficulty settling back into my real life, and I wasn’t feeling very joyful. At this she perked up, and asked if I ever had suicidal thought. I assured her that I didn’t, and she seemed somewhat disappointed.

No matter how hard I tried (not very) I couldn’t get to the heart of the matter. How can I explain what it’s like to be in my shoes, when she won’t really acknowledge my shoes at all. 

Tamoxi-fun

Well this is fun! I have to take 1,825 pills. Not all at one time of course - they’re taken over a period of five years.  After all the treamtent us cancerisits patients have been through - chemo, radiation, surgery, you’d think that a pill a day would be a cakewalk. But it’s not. Taking a pill a day is actually something that is quite difficult for me.

The act of taking the pill isn’t a big deal; it’s remembering to take it that’s hard. Halfway through yoga class, mid-downward dog, I’ll start wondering if I’ve taken my daily pill. Or yesterday’s daily pill for that matter.  Often I haven’t. Perhaps it’s because I don’t enjoy this little pill that has thrust me into menopause with hot flashes so severe that it feels like my insides are melting. But take it I must, as it interferes with the activity of the estrogen that canceritis cells need to grow.

In an effort to be more efficient I put the pill bottle in my underwear drawer thinking my daily pill could be paired with my daily undies. But I still forgot. So I went to the drugstore to if I could find a solution. I wandered over to the ‘accessories’ aisle and come across a revolving display stand that was garnering a bit of attention. A couple of whispy haired senior gals were spinning the stand slowly, plucking off packages and bringing them up close to their little faces to read the fine print. I realized that the thing in their wrinkly hands was the thing that I needed – a pill organizer.

Instead of making me happy, it made me really depressed. Did I really need a cheap plastic container with the days of the week on it to organize me medication? Sigh. Yes, I did. The seniors were fumbling around with the various models, tasting the lids for maneuverability, and testing how well it slipped into a handbag. Some containers were small, but others were as big as a paint set, with little compartments for morning, noon, and night. 

I reached over the little people’s heads and grabbed one, which was the size of a ‘Crunchie’ bar. It had seven compartments, one for each day of the week. The seniors looked at the case in my hand, then up at my face. ‘That one doesn’t close so good,’ said one of them. I tested it, and it seemed fine. With her eyes she motioned to one up higher. ‘You’ll be wanting that one.’  So I reached up and grabbed it, and it was pink! And, at half the size of a Crunchie bar it fits discreetly in my drawer, where it is surrounded by my panties (which do not have the days of the week).

I wondered if the seniors were curious about why someone so young and lovely as myself needed to take a pill every day. But they didn’t care. I was part of their club now, and didn’t have time to give it any more thought because there in the chilly air-conditioned store,  I was starting to sweat.

Tomoxafen. 30 Down. 1,795 to go. 

Cancer Hasn't Made Me Nice

There is a rumour swirling around that dealing with cancer makes one nicer. Because we’re confronted with life and death situations (mostly life) and an astounding array of possibilities, we are somewhat humbled by the power of life. The result of that I guess, is heightened consideration and a great depth of feeling.

‘There but the grace of God go I’ passes through my head when I see the homeless man sitting outside the hospital. The small things in life are so important, and it is no sacrifice for me to give him enough money to buy a large cup of coffee (but not quite a frappucino). Misfortune, at one time, was someone else’s problem, but now it has involved me. We are a big club, no matter how we’re dressed, and I feel more inclusive to those whose luck isn’t guaranteed.

So it would be nice to think that canceritis had changed me, and that it’s silver lining would be compassion and understanding. And I thought that was the case, until last Friday when I walked into a furniture store and was greeted by a man in a neck brace.In theory, there’s nothing funny about a neck brace. Some poor soul had obviously been through trauma and was in a lot of pain. But in reality, neck braces crack me up. So when them man came over and asked how I was doing, it was all I could not to giggle.

'Can I interest you in a loveseat?'

The brace covered his whole neck with elevated areas around his jaw. And because it was made of hard plastic, the man’s jowls were pushed in which accentuated his lips, making him look like a blow fish. To make things even better, his eyes bulged a bit, as they had to compensate for his inability to turn his neck.

Of course I thought of the Brady Bunch episode where the family’s car was in a collision. The other driver claimed whiplash. However, he was discredited when Mike (the architect) deliberately drops his briefcase on the floor and he turns to see it. So I had the urge to throw my car keys across the store. Not to see if this guy would turn is head, because his injury was legit, but to watch him turn 180 degrees all in one piece.

But he was very nice. I was interested in a bookcase that was at he back of the store, and I described it to him. ‘I know the one,’ he said, and started to pivot slowly like a plastic doll (circa 1960) with no moveable parts.  ‘Ah there it is,’ he said, his eyes doing all the work, ‘Let’s go an look at it.' So he walked slowly and purposefully across the store, occasionally bumping into low-lying furniture. And I followed behind, chuckling softly, and wondering what would happened if I tickled him.

I never asked him about his neck. That in itself doesn’t make me unkind. I just truly didn’t care about the events leading up to his present condition. I was more concerned with ‘living in the moment’ and enjoying the spectacle of his little blowfish mouth telling me about adjustable shelving.

Maybe that part doesn’t make me so nice. But when I’m back at the hospital on Wednesday, Homeless Guy gets a latte.

Faking It

The thing about going back to work, after spending eight months in Cancerland, is that you  don’t really give a sh*t. My job is not rocket science. I’m not saving lives. So it hardly matters to me if a set of curtains is ten inches too short.

These day, a big part of my job is faking concern. In the morning we go over all the stuff we need to find in order to make things look turn-of-the-century. At meetings I  nod and make all the proper gurgling noises that make it sound like I’m in agreement.  But I’m not really listening.  I don’t care about decorating a TV show. Instead, I’m thinking about the nutritional value of fiddleheads (excellent!) and if I’ve remembered to take my Tamoxafin (oops).

But last week I made my list of things to do and head out into the world. First stop was a shop that specializes in salvaged architectural items. I walk in the store and because my brain is so mushy, check my list to remember why I’m there.  Wall sconces! Yes! So I corral the owner and we head down to the basement.

The owner, Roy, is busily chatting sbout carriage lights, copper lining, and blabbity blah, blah blah blah. While I tune him out, I tune in to two little food bowls in the corner, as well as a small blanket. Roy’s now holding up a wrought iron lantern but I’ve stopped paying attention. ‘Hey Roy, what’s with the bowls?’

He explains to me that he took in a stray cat. The cat, which is apparently scared and scraggly, stays hidden in the dark basement.  Knowing that there is a frightened creature nearby, I try to send out some positive nurturing energy. The fact that I’m not really a cat person isn’t important. I just found a little breathing creature infinitely more interest that a pair of sconces. Especially since Roy's  lights were overpriced, not of the right time period, and need to be rewired.

Unable to make a decision, I leave the shop and go back to the office to discuss the set. ‘Are these lights the best options?’ asks the designer. Hardly. They’re totally cheesey, oversized, and my even be made of plastic (circa 1972). But I hear myself saying that, ‘Absolutely the best option in the entire city We must have them!’

The next day I got to pick up the lights. With a million things on my list, I should be rushing, but I head down to the basement and spend a little time walking around seeing if I can find mangey cat. Because I’m on my own I chat with the cat, and tell him that everything is going to be okay. On behalf of Belleruth, I try to summon up a few magical friends and secret protectors to send his way.  Roy comes downstairs and I ask him is he’s going to keep the cat forever. Roy nods solemnly, ‘Yeah. He’s my cat now. I’ll take care of him’.

I am glad there are people like Roy, and feeling like that my task is complete, I leave the store. Of course my task wasn't complete. There was no note saying, ‘Check on cat’. My note said ‘pick up the sconces’. Which I didn’t, because I forgot. 

So this morning I went back and picked up the sconces. I went to the cash on the main level where the scones were boxed, and waiting.  Roy was writing up the invoice when I hear a little mew. I looked around but saw nothing.  Then I heard it again. I turned around and under a roll top desk (circa 1911) was a scrawny black and white cat. He was hunched down on all fours and was staring at me. I felt a ball in my chest that in any other environment could have been a sob. ‘He came upstairs!’ I said to Roy, trying not to cry. Roy smiled, and said ‘Yeah, and he almost let me pet him.’

Back in my car, I looked down at my ‘to do list’ and there wasn’t a check mark in sight. I pondered quitting. Professionally, I'm probably in the wrong place. But at least a little cat was in the right one.

Meow.