HI Everyone,
The post this morning is focused on people who have cancer, and how to organize yourself in preparing for going forward. The cancer bag is a really good idea for a Holiday gift too. The sooner you get it the more organized and less confused you will be.
Having cancer is a challenging nightmare and most of the time the details are coming at you about 100 mph. Your mind is in shock and where my memory went, I will never know. So some of the best advice I got from my oncologist (cancer doctor) was to obtain a bag, use it for only cancer things and keep everything in that bag.
This bag is to go everywhere with you; to each appointment. Everything somebody gives you is dropped into the bag. Pick up everything, all pamphlets, magazines, doctors business cards. The other thing I recommend is one brand new notebook, preferably 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheets of paper. And remember, 2 pens!!
On the cover of this notebook write your email address, your medical identification number from your insurance card, any portal (the medical office’s site) and your log in id and password. Yes, I know..write down my password? Yes write it down. If you want to put it on the last page fine. Just make sure you remember where because you won’t remember anything as the stress increases. Keep it simple. Who the heck wants to go to your med portal anyway.
Its a good idea to explain this bag to your family too. On the inside of the notebook, staple all business cards in one place. You are going to need your doctors numbers, and oncology is great about giving you a direct number to call them. And you will call them, often. Keep a log in the notebook of appointments, instructions. Note any things the doctors want you to do, decide, or NOT do. Do not lift! Whatever.
At my first oncology appointment, my doctor went over in detail with me what cancer I had, and what the possibilities would be for every type of treatment I could receive. Thankfully, he had this all typed into a nice document and stapled. He wrote in the margins identifying for me, what was my stage, tumor info, and options. He told me this document was to stay inside my cancer bag. I would need to read it over again. (The paper is worn out!). When I would get scared, I would look at the paper. I would remember the goal: end the cancer.
Now a little about the bag. It needs to be lightweight, something like a L’Sportsac. You might not have any arm strength. It needs to be fairly large, so you can slip in a change of clothes if you have to, maybe a little makeup (but I could have cared less), instructions on how to get to your appointments. Google is great for getting a map. My appointments were spread from Downtown Seattle, 20 miles north to Bothell Canyon Park, and back over to Totem Lake and then Beacon Hill. No day was ever the same.
ASK your doctor, right away, for a disability sticker for the car. It will save you tons of pain, and lots of parking fees which can easily add up to 75.00 a week and you don’t need this now when your income has plummeted into the crapper. Trust me, you will need your money later. This has saved me so much pain, time and sanity.
Now another topic, that none of us want to talk about or do. If you have already done this, fantastic! Get yourself a Power of Attorney document and get it filled out, and notarized. No it is not in the event you die, its in the event you are incapacitated and somebody needs to take care of not only you, but your monthly bills, and things that need to be filled out to get you help. This could be arranging home health care, pet care (my dogs both got sick during this…what a nightmare), depositing into your bank account, etc.
The other documents should be in a place also. A Medical Directive. I know we hate all this stuff, but reality is striking home and its best to be prepared. Having cancer treatment can be exhausting, and there are so many details to manage. You won’t have time later, do this early and put it away. No more worries for you or the family.
The last thing I want to suggest at this stage is, become familiar with the oncology social worker. He or she can save you from insanity. Cancer is a disease of fear. People: both friends and family, are in their own ‘freaked out’ mode. They will try and mend old fences, give you hours of advice and sometimes, avoid you all together. If you aren’t there, it isn’t happening! Get yourself a social worker who is objective, and not personally involved. Mine was the best advocate I have ever known. She was knowledgeable in grief and loss. She helped me work through my family issues in less than two hours! LOL…speed therapy. I released them, they are doing the best they can. I will take care of ME. I am first now. (more on caretakers with cancer later!!!). And one good thing, she is free from the oncology department!
Get your bag, make it a pretty one if you are a gal, or if you are a guy get a cool leather one – you have more muscles anyway….maybe. 
The bag is your friend. Last thing in the evening, I dump it out on the bed and see all the new good stuff I have accumulated: It has magazines, book lists, reference cards for local chapters of Susan Komen foundation, Phone numbers!!! invaluable stuff, where to find help…which is a whole other blog. My head is still spinning.
Just when my bag was getting pretty worn out, my dear life long friend Cindy quilted me a beautiful bag, with pockets and gorgeous colors. On the card she wrote she stitched in courage, love and faith in each stitch. Its my most priceless gift ever! Thank you Cindy (a 12 year survivor of breast cancer)!
Until tomorrow, go forth and conquer!
