grieving and treatment

My father passed away a couple of weeks ago (the night before I started IT Herceptin, in fact). His service was last week. It was small and private. I was very impressed with the priest who had never met my father but listened to my mom and my sister and said some very thoughtful things.The end of my father's life was not an easy one and, in his last days, I was unable to get to the hospital. I didn't (we didn't) want to put my treatment in jeopardy by exposing myself to hospital germs. It was the right call but it was hard and it made everything seem less real and further away. I have realized that grieving, or working through, a death is perhaps not so compatible with intense cancer treatment. I need to stay focused, informed, strong and clear as we go forward.I need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and get to treatment every single week. I need to build a relationship with a new oncologist (who I had never met before starting the IT Herceptin). I need to figure out what I wish to do when it comes to increasing doses and deciding how to proceed (my new oncologist is very thoughtful but also consultative. He acknowledges that we are smart and well informed - and that there is a paucity of information out there). I need to walk that line between getting stuff done, having some fun, staying vigilant and getting enough rest.It turns out that my regular oncologist, who has followed me since 2006, is unlikely to return for several months (I ...
Source: Not just about cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: brain metastasis breast cancer cancer blog family grief herceptin metastatic my kids my love show and tell thinking Source Type: blogs