An ovarian cancer survivor shares what she wishes she had known then with those who are newly diagnosed.
BY Kelly Irvin
PUBLISHED October 08, 2019
Kelly Irvin is a multi-published novelist and former newspaper reporter who worked in public relations for more than 20 years. She retired from her day job in 2016 after being diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis, a degenerative motor neuron disease, and stage 4 ovarian cancer. She spends her days writing and loving her family.
As I head into my fourth year of living with cancer, I often see social media posts from new patients with cancer and I feel for them. Not only for what cancer is doing to their bodies, but because of the stress I know they are feeling as they try to absorb the diagnosis and deal with insurance, bills and health care providers in one fell swoop.I remember well the numb, overwhelmed state I experienced in those first days. I didn’t know enough to formulate intelligent questions, so I stumbled through a myriad of obstacles like the proverbial bull in a china closet. I want to share what I wish I had known then for new members in a club that none of us ever wanted to join.
Ask a nurse navigator for assistance. I had never heard that term prior to my diagnosis, but nurse navigators can help patients learn about resources available to them and which ones they may need. Would someone benefit from a psychologist or a social worker? They can offer advice.
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