Tag Archives: radiation

Dealing with Alopecia

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One of the many difficulties a cancer patient has to deal with is Alopecia or more commonly known as hair loss. Chemotherapy is often the culprit of hair loss, while occasionally caused by Radiation Therapy. Radiation causes hair loss only in the area of treatment (i.e. whole brain Radiation or Pelvic Radiation) and not throughout the body as Chemotherapy often invades.

Currently treating a patient forced to deal with reality…she is going to have to let me see her bald head. This person was treated previously to another site, but returns with metastatic disease to her brain. Previously, with all attempts to get her to show me her bald head, she could not. Due to the conditioned response from society as being unacceptable for a woman to have no hair, she was unable to “pop her top.” Assuring her beauty with or without hair, she still could not see herself as beautiful without her wig.

I often reflect on the phrase, “want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans.” Sooner or later He will present an opportunity to embrace who we truly are. Those who see divinity in themselves find eternal happiness, those who see a worn old body with Alopecia continue in misery. The irony to this story is during our last meeting I told her sooner or later she will have to show me her bald head. Her response is, “I am not ready.” Knowing how the Universe works I knew the time would present itself.

Day 2 of her brain treatment and she sneakily took her wig off and allowed me to see her head without her wig on. I assured her she is still as beautiful as with her wig and encouraged her to go without more often. “Baby steps forward,” was her reply. She made a giant step today even if it was only a baby step…for she is on her way to emotional freedom of how she looks.

Someday we will stop worrying about our appearance and worry more about what the world looks like. If all we see is ourselves, we miss the miracles around us. Put down the mirror and ‘Step into the Canvas,’ witnessing all of God’s perfection.

Walking in Memphis

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In treating cancer patients, we witness various emotions: fear, anger, sadness and often broken spirit. The opposing: hope, acceptance, gratitude, and ultimately Love, Love being the most important of them all. My job as a Radiation Therapist is not only to cure a person of cancer and rid them of disease, but to empower them in reclaiming their lives.

 

We never know when our clock will stop ticking; therefore we must live today as if it were the last. With every breath or every word spoken we contemplate whether we are consciously making effort to being in the moment and extending gratitude in every given situation. In connecting with each person we identify if they our at-ease or dis-ease with their diagnosis, allowing us to facilitate their physical, emotional and spiritual needs, raising their healing vibration to that of hope and ultimately love. There is great pleasure when connecting on the level of the soul, but also when the patient begins their journey towards healing.

 

While many will survive, there are many who won’t. The important factor is not whether we cure them of cancer but cure them at levels of the soul, acceptance being the final product. We are to comfort them and put them at ease.

 

Today, a patient came in nervous and scared. She did not know what to expect or what might happen during or after her treatment. Earlier that day she prayed for a sign that everything will be okay. As she got on the table a song came on which proved not only familiar but that everything will be okay, releasing any fear or doubt of her outcome. Marc Cohn began to sing to her “Walking in Memphis” which immediately brought back to her hometown of Memphis. In tears she smiled and gave a soft thank you to the universe. This woman was from Memphis and her confirmation was in a song.

 

When her first treatment was over, upon her exit and being asked how she felt, she replied, “Thank you. Earlier today I asked God to give me a sign that everything will be okay. When Walking in Memphis came on, He told me so.” Giving us a hug and thanking us again, with confidence, she explained, “Everything is going to be okay.”

 

Was this coincidence or was this divine intervention? There are confirmations like this every day, but often times we are too busy to notice. Reflect on a time that this happened… What are the odds it would have happened? I offer a simple suggestion of slowing down and paying attention to our surroundings.

 

When we connect with the universe, the universe will speak more frequently to us. Coincidence, which I prefer synchronicity, will increase and soon will find ourselves and the Universe in collaboration.

 

What are your thoughts on coincidence? Was this situation an accident or was it right on time?