The Day of Diagnosis: What was it like for you?
We all have a "before" and an "after." There is no script for how to hear life-changing news. This is a space to talk about the "in-between"—that moment in the doctor's office and the hours that followed.
- What was that visit to the doctor like for you?
- What do you remember most about the room or the conversation?
- How did you process the news in those first few hours?
- What thoughts or feelings hit you in that moment?
- What did you do immediately after you walked out of the clinic doors?
- Where did you go, or who was your first call?
I write a lot to keep my mind occupied.
My diagnosis came from my dental surgeon. She had biopsied a large spot in my upper palate and called me to confirm that I had oral mucosal melanoma. Of course, my heart sank. I knew nothing about this type of cancer and so went to the internet. I learned mucosal melanomas are rare and aggressive without any known risk facts. I also learned that the prognosis is usually rather poor, in part because the diagnosis is very often made late in the disease's progression. I had the good fortune of being treated at the Smilow Cancer Center at Yale by a first-rate care team. Surgery successfully removed the cancer and altered my mouth substantially. Recovery was slow because I could not eat solid food and so getting adequate nourishment was very hard. The pace of recovery quickened once solid food became available to me. I am now under surveillance but am aware that the cancer can return and/or spread. So I am struggling to cope with this chronic uncertainty. That is hard!
Thank you for sharing your story! I am glad your dentist was alert and you have a good care team. Totally agree- Living with cancer is hard. Do you do anything (meditation, prayer, leaning on friends/family, etc) to help you manage your uncertainty? All the best, Kathy (Team member)
