The following guest post is a reprint with permission from Christine Magnus Moore who has the dual perspective of an oncology nurse and a cancer survivor. You can find the original post on her blog at www.bothsidesofthebedside.com.
Christine is the author of the book, Both Sides of the Bedside: From Oncology Nurse to Patient, an RN’s Journey with Cancer. Passionate about survivorship, Christine has published articles on the ihadcancer.com website and in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. She is also a speaker and has given a TEDx talk and was recently featured on a podcast for The Stupid Cancer show.
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Nurse Talk
Cancer patients and their families deal with many stresses along the cancer journey, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. They wrestle with the cancer invader, their piece of mind under attack. How do they cope? They maneuver through the grief and question how to restructure their lives. Stress has everyone on pins and needles wondering what the patient’s outcome will be. Some relationships grow stronger and some fall apart.
Survivor Speak
As a patient, I found the cancer experience to be so much more taxing mentally and emotionally (and every way) than I knew as a nurse. I had to cope with horrendous nausea and vomiting, debilitating fatigue, being on disability, moving and more. Grief bombarded me and I questioned how I was going to deal with my illness. I tried to cope in positive ways: writing in a journal, praying, and painting. These things all helped but I still experienced bouts of depression, cried buckets of tears, and was overwhelmed with bursts of anxiety. Until one day, I decided I’d look at my situation as an adventure. Not good or bad, but as another life adventure. This shift in my thinking helped me balance the weight and heaviness I felt emotional and mentally. I was coping with cancer in a different way.
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have.” Unknown
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Her book is available on Amazon (print and Kindle) and Barnes and Noble online (print and Nook)
Website: www.bothsidesofthebedside.com
Like her book on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BothSidesOfTheBedside
Twitter @CmagnusMoore
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Thank you, Christine, for allowing us to reprint your blog post!
If you have a story to share with our readers about participating in a clinical trial, overcoming adversity or living with a chronic condition, please let us know. We’d love to have you guest blog for us. Guest blogging helps others outside of your disease area learn about your struggles and discover your passions. We will help promote your website and social media accounts, as well as your favorite advocacy group. Click here to get started sharing your story now!
(photo credit to Cyndi Golden)