Julith

In the fall of 2019, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 anal cancer. Since then I have had four recurrences and three operations. For the past fifteen months, after six months of chemo, I have been in remission. If there is one thing I’ve learned over the past five years, it’s that patients should stand up for themselves. Educate yourself so you can ask your doctors informed questions. When you’re faced with a big decision – whether to have a major operation, whether to go through a daunting chemo regime not just once but twice, as I did – seek a second opinion. Doctors – often for the best of reasons – have their biases. Surgeons advocate surgery. Clinical oncologists argue for radiation; medical oncologists for chemotherapy. Make sure you learn the pros and cons of each: every form of treatment has side-effects and short- and long-term complications. If I had known more about the long-term complications of radiotherapy, I might have chosen to forego it. Be supple and flexible. Forgive yourself for your ignorance and fear and forgive others for their mistakes. Along the way you will meet people – nurses, technicians, consultants, fellow patients – who will astound you. I’m convinced that I’ve become a better person since I’ve had cancer.