Episode 008: Staying Positive Despite Cancer
Apr 06, 2018•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Episode description
In this episode, I'm talking to Rochelle who is amazing at articulating her cancer adventure in a way that’s universal. So even if your experience is different, you can still find so much that you can relate to! In this episode, we cover:
The bombshell of diagnosis and the alien reality of cancer
Why trust in your specialist is critical
Why some people are the rock of support (and why some people drop off)
Ups and downs of chemotherapy
The importance of connecting cancer experience
Emotional ebbs and flows during cancer
The lost art of listening
Links
Cancer Connect
Cancer Council Victoria
ThinkHatch Marketing & Communications
Full Transcript
Joe: Hey, this is Joe Bakhmoutski and welcome to Simplify Cancer Podcast. Right now, you’re going to hear from Rochelle, who is a cancer survivor and what’s really amazing about Rochelle is that she can articulate what this cancer adventure has been like for her in a way that’s universal. Even if your experience is different, you can still find so much that you can relate to. I really hope that we can find an hour or two with Rochelle somewhere down the line because there’s just so much to unwrap. For now, enjoy. Rochelle, thank you so much for doing this. I’ve been really looking forward to it. First of all, tell me, how did you react when you found out that you had cancer?
Rochelle: Obviously, there was a huge element of shock. My symptoms were nothing more than a shallow cough, a reasonable amount of weight loss and a little bit of exhaustion. Given that I had a new-born son, weight loss during breastfeeding was very normal to me, exhaustion is obviously part of the new-born package and I am prone to coughing and throaty-type illness, generally speaking. I don’t get sick very often but if ever do, it’s normally a cough.
I really didn’t notice. I think the shock of not actually feeling particularly unwell and then discovering, as a gross optimist, I think I told you earlier that I’m terrible optimistic, discovering something as significant and severe as cancer, as a diagnosis was shocking. Almost a little bit unbelievable.
Joe: When you say unbelievable, how long did this feeling last for? Did it change?
Rochelle: My father is a medic. He quickly diagnosed me. I often joke that he thinks he’s like a diagnostician, like Dr. House from the TV show. I think he semi-diagnosed me and sent me to a doctor and as soon as I saw her, she sent me for a CT scan and shortly after that, a biopsy. I knew very quickly that something was going on, but no one actually had used the C-word, so I didn’t actually understand the severity of what I was being tested for or what was suspect. I think when she then called me in on the morning of my birthday.
Joe: Oh no!
Rochelle: Yes, 8:30am, to say, “Listen, Rachelle, you’ve got Hodgkin’s lymphoma.” That shock was probably the result of just really not having any understanding that that’s what was potentially on the cards. As soon as I saw the oncologist the next day, and he told me my odds and told me my treatment plan, shock really dissolved almost instantly into, right, action stations, let’s crack on, we’ve just got to get better. The shock didn’t last very long for me. I think it possibly lasted a little bit longer for my partner and my family. I transitioned very quickly into, I just need to get through this.
Joe: Yes, good on you, because you’re completely unprepared when it happens, right?
Rochelle: Completely unprepared. Also, I’ve not really been to hospital, I’ve not really ever been unwell in any significant way. I’ve never had much involvement with the medical profession. Part of the shock is not only, oh my goodness, I have cancer, which is surely something that happens to other people. Part of the discomfort initially is also,
