Watching WOWS! Women grow...

It is magical to have seen and experienced our group this evening. I was amazed to see our members who have only been out to only a few of our meetings, grow personally this month, they were able to turn around to share their personal experiences and heartfelt support with a newly diagnosed member. They were supportive, informative, reassuring and genuine, they gave selflessly of themselves. We had the opportunity to help our new member wrap her head around her diagnosis and what the next steps in her journey might look like.

Questions were asked about the reality of treatment, of past experiences, and helpful hints on how to go forward through treatment. Advice was sought on working while going through treatment: the pros and cons, fatigue, hair loss; the questions and comments from others and how to handle them. Also discussed: things to look for when undergoing chemo - what is to be expected, what is not normal/when should you discuss things with your medical team. What could be expected during radiation,

Levels of fatigue during various treatments were discussed, and taking the opportunity to nap may help ease fatigue. Reminders were important to make room in your day for self-care, separate and aside from daily routines.

Useful tips:

Bring a pencil and paper to medical team sessions to write down what your medical specialists have to tell you, and having written down things that don't feel right, to take to your medical team are effective so you don't forget information between one visit and the next.

You may be asked by your medical team to quit taking natural supplements and vitamins for the duration of your chemo - interactions may happen, or may interfere with chemo effectiveness. Recommendations on this were to bring your questions/supplements/vitamins to the one to one session held with a pharmacist during chemo orientation.

You might need to carry tissues if you develop post nasal drip - chemo removes the hair even in your nostrils, so there is nothing for the drip to cling to...hence the tissues.

Flavours may not taste right, tastebuds might find certain flavours "off-putting" or may seem stronger than before chemo, the advice: keep trying flavours. Shared experiences of eating a balanced diet was important to all to prevent constipation that often accompanies chemo - recommendations to follow the Canada Food Guide to keep on track with balance was made.

Discussed were post-treatment ongoing medications. What to expect, and who to tell when you may experience side effects.

I witnessed the moment of realization when our wonderful WOWS! women understood that they had been responsible for providing our new member a sense of relief, that they transformed this evening into teachers and advisors with their cancer-life experience.

I was able to reveal to these wonderful women that they are a vital part of this expanding and ever-evolving group, that we enter our group to accept help from the group and we are able to impact the group members so positively with our experiences.

Tonight, having shared their truths, they helped relieve someone's fears and worries, they became mentors. We all move forward empowered.

Til next month, be true to yourself.