I started my BC journey with two helpful skills, one based on knowledge and the other on heart. I had gone back to college at 41 in a medically related field. It has helped immensely in understanding treatment options and reading research. I also know that “significant” results from the research is the standard that physicians determine whether a treatment can be depended on to do what it says it will do. It’s a statistical number. They are absolutely correct in using a standard that guarantees success most often. But I am not a statistic. I may not fall within the standard deviation. So I try to include my unique history, functioning, and symptoms when making a decision about which treatment to accept.

And my heart. One of my children had a medical issue starting about 30 years ago. It’s heart wrenching when your child has a problem that you can’t solve. That experience has made me more resilient in other tough situations. Before retiring, I worked with a very difficult person. Looking back, I should have changed jobs. But the one thing that kept me sane, was when situations with her became most difficult I’d think, “This is so minor compared to my child’s issue. If you think you can break me, you just don’t know how strong I am.”

I do the best I can to make the right decision about treatment options and remind myself that life has thrown other obstacles at me and I am strong.