I truly understand when a patient comes in for their regularly scheduled follow up appointments and the apprehension and fear that encompasses you during that time. I often say for me going through it that I hold my breath until I hear the all clear and of course that is not exactly accurate but it is how I feel. I have been with patients that come to me and celebrate the all clear that they just received from their doctor and turn around and in the next five minutes or hour or day, have a patient that turns to me for support since their cancer is either not receding or is back and they are once again faced with treatment decisions and possible outcomes. This is all in a day and I feel the full gambit of what these people have turned to me for support for. I know that I want to jump and shout when it is good news and words are difficult to find when it is not so good news. You as family and friends hear the rest of the story...the what if's, the possible outcomes, the uncertainty in an otherwise strong person that may be the leader of your family or circle of friends. No matter what the news, we all need support. Listening may be one of the hardest jobs in the world and I for one want to be able to fix it all and have to realize that it is not mine to fix. I believe in a higher power and turn more and more over each day to that higher power. I also ask for support so that I may help others. No one can do this all alone, I am fortunate to have good friends and family and also an amazing husband to help find the steps and words and skills to just listen. No matter what side the coin lands on, we are all put here to help one another and I for one am no better or worse than the next. I hope that I can make your day a little better for both sides of the coin and hopefully you will be able to do the same. Challenging days!
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AuthorMy name is Sue Kilburn and I am a clinical nurse breast cancer educator at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Archives
March 2015
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