Be Alerted When The Book Becomes Available!
practical ways to manage the journey from 3 Distinct sources
oncology medical teams
oncology medical teams
oncology medical teams
The men and women who enter the oncology field have a special calling and an extra special dose of patient empathy. Many survivors would even call them "Earth Angels"! It is the author's experience and that of nearly every patient he talked with that the medical team is held in high regard by their patients. Cancer patients often are extremely sick, not just from the disease itself, but from most of the treatments. The care so often delivered by these professionals is amazing. Plus, some patients are extreme "frequent flyers" with countless hours of treatment. Friendships develop and common interests are shared (sports, books, etc.) over the months, and even years spent together. So, a special thanks to Oncology team members! They earn survivor love and respect every minute, and most probably, a special place in heaven one day.
CANCER survivors
oncology medical teams
oncology medical teams
Alan has endeavored to write a book that documents the common journey of cancer patients that he's talked to personally or been shared with him by caregivers or family. With the "blessing" (his words) of having weekly infusions for over three and a half years, he has seen and talked with 100's of cancer patients in every stage of the disease. He certainly has adapted his personal journey to common steps but truly doesn't want the book or the process to be self-focused. Alan: "It's not about me, it's truly about trying to bless fellow patients, oncology medical team members, and caregivers with a positive way to manage the difficulty of cancer." The common threads of successful patients who are "beating the odds" is shared anonymously (pseudonyms used) with practicality, warmth, and humor.
The AUTHOR
oncology medical teams
The AUTHOR
Alan Hale is a Multiple Myeloma survivor who learned of his blood cancer at an annual physical in 2020. Due to a genetic profile that is considered "high risk" for recurrence, his treatment included a weekly infusion for the over 3 years, and ongoing maintenance therapy for most likely the rest of his life. He is a volunteer and First Connection Mentor with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS.org). With his mentoring experience and years of multiple hour weekly infusions, Alan has gained insights into how his fellow patients have coped with their cancer journey. Methods to deal with the highs and the lows that he has adapted and embraced. There is absolute commonality in the ways survivors thrive with the least amount of stress. Importantly, caregivers and family members can benefit from the same steps as they cope with their loved one's disease.
The acronym - G.u.t.s.
cancer takes Guts.
THE FOUR STEPS IN CANCER TREATMENT OR EVEN THE JOURNEY ITSELF:
STEP 1. G = GRIND Grind through the Prognosis. Grind through Treatment. Grind through the inevitable Side-Effects. The one thought to carry is: "This Too, Shall Pass!" Think too, about how there is always someone in treatment who has it worse than you, or has a much lower tolerance for a drug, or even the associated pain level. When you get to the point that you feel blessed to be in treatment, or even a tad better than someone else you've come to know at the clinic, or you are in remission, then you'll know that you're "succeeding in the grind."
STEP 2. U = UTILIZE Utilize your family, friends, and faith. Just know that a few friends may fade away; but dear and distant friends and family members will shock you with their sincere and frequent "check-ins". Remember that your spouse and family are struggling too. You are always in their thoughts... so, do your best to LEAD and help them deal with their stress over your treatments. If you have no faith, find even a very little. Read a devotional, or lean into prayer and strengthen your faith. Most who thrive find it or had it all along. But, if you're angry with God, or are a non-believer, or an atheist, be open to the idea that a Spiritual connection can help.
STEP 3. T = TRUST Trust your medical team! All cancer teams are extremely proficient in the delivery of the current, well-established strategies, drugs, and therapies to treat you. But, recognize that your medical team is volunteering in a field of medicine that is extremely challenging because not every outcome is positive. Some patients may benefit or need specialized treatment. Ask your doctor if an oncology specialist is warranted with your type of cancer. Most importantly, appreciate and be grateful for the commitment that your medical team has made to doing all that is possible to help you heal both physically and mentally.
STEP 4. S = STAY Stay Positive! Positivity is probably the most amazing part of your journey that you'll see day in and day out. You will encounter an incredibly positive patient with an absolutely grim diagnosis. Worse, those with relatively positive near cures that are snippy and unpleasant. Positive dispositions live longer and certainly make the journey easier for family members. But sometimes the journey is rough and you do feel lousy and can't be super positive. RECOGNIZE it and then start back at Step 1 and GRIND through that low point, that hour or the entire day. Stay the Course by Staying Positive!
**********
This is not all there is to the book or your journey with cancer. Alan talks through deeper discussions with patients, shares some anecdotes, and discloses some of the thoughts from leading oncology researchers and doctors about the new and promising therapies and drugs in the cancer field.
