Anonymous wrote:Op, i’m a few months ahead of you. I start chemo next Friday. It is all so horrible, but the waiting was horrible and telling people was a lot harder than i ever thought. I waited until i had my final pathology reports before i told my young teens.
What has helped - until i knew exactly what i was dealing with, i told 4 people. That's it. I HAD to compartmentalize my life and couldn’t deal with pop up ‘how are you doing’ inquiries. Once i had all results and treatment plan, i told a slightly larger group - via text. Text was what i found to be the best way to navigate the inevitable tears. Siblings, close neighbors, coworkers that would need to know all got texts/emails. I still have sports moms that i need to tell, but who wants to hear that on the sidelines? They will get a text next week.
I keep as busy as i normally do. On walks i do meditations. On the worst days, i do heavy house and yard work to stay physically active with the hoped that i get so tired, sleep comes easier.
Going forward, i told everyone they could tell whomever they want. Also, i’d give treatment updates on sundays. That’s it. I need to navigate this with my kids and my mental and physical health as a priority. I know people will keep me in their thoughts, but i can’t handle the distraction of a ‘hey, thinking of you’ when for a few hours i’ve been able to forget i’ve got endometrial cancer.
I wish you the best.
I wish you the best, too. Your approach is a smart one, and I'm sorry you have to go through this.
OP