Well after 6 months it's over -- or is it?

After the last chemo things really started to get back to a normal routine. The exception, and therefore constant reminder, were the monthly doctor visits. There was the paranoia that Jackie had every time she felt some small lump or imperfection. There was the question for every cold or flu-like symptom -- was is it cancer or not? This time period was a combination of an almost normal life contrasted with periods of paranoia (or maybe not), coupled with doctor's visits and lots of tests. Sometimes the tests were to see whatever Jackie had found, and I believe that sometimes the tests were ordered just to prove to Jackie that everything was OK.

Stress is considered to be one of the major factors in cancer instigation. Don't stew worrying about it, get it checked. But be realistic. If the doctor doesn't see a problem (assuming you trust your doctor, and why would you entrust your life to him if you didn't) then don't go in for lots of tests. Let his judgment be your guide, with your help.

Just like those who have been through Lamaze or the Bradley method for natural childbirth, you should have a coach to go through the cancer treatments. Whether it's a spouse, parent, older child, good friend, or whoever, it is important that someone be with you to back you up. Doctors don't always remember what they said to you on your last visit -- and with the effects of chemo and the stress you're under, it's good to have the coach there to remember what happened and what the game plan is. This is very important. The effects of chemo can be severe, and between the chemo, the side-effects and the pre-meds, Jackie's memory wasn't as good as usual. We joked about it, and we called the effects "chemo brain" when she would forget something that happened during or right after a treatment. It was good that I had been there and was able to back her up.

Make a back up of the back up. Write it down. When a treatment plan is agreed on or when a test will be performed, write it down. That way you can verify what is happening. Jackie also found it psychologically useful to write down what she was feeling, what effects she was experiencing. It was useful when she went back to the doctor to report her reactions between visits.