NAVIGATING THE FIRST 30 DAYS
Part 1
The First Signs & Diagnosis
What to Expect
It often starts with something you can’t ignore-like blood in the washroom or unusual changes in your body. Soon after, you may hear words like biopsy, staging, treatment plan, and finally, the C-word. Often, the C-word is introduced right at the time of biopsy - not at the end. Doctors want to investigate and ‘rule out’ whether it is C or not. From that moment, you are left holding the weight of the word, followed by endless waiting: waiting for results, waiting for staging, waiting for treatment plans, waiting for more answers. The uncertainty becomes its own kind of burden.
(No one ever wants to hear they have the C-word. In that moment, it is easy to feel completely lost - like your world has stopped and you are facing the unthinkable.)
My Advice
Stay Positive - Negative thoughts will take you down a very scary path very quickly.
Reach out to friends - You need as much love and support as you can get right now.
Trust Your Body - You need as much love and support as you can get right now.
Push for Answers - Advocate for tests and second opinions.
Write It Down - Take notes at appointments or bring someone you trust.
Part 2
Navigating Doctors, Tests & Hospitals
What to Expect
The medical system can feel overwhelming - appointments, scans, and a flood of jargon.
My Advice
Stay Positive - Choose doctors and hospitals where you feel supported and heard.
Learn the Language - Don’t hesitate to say, “Explain that in plain English.”
Keep Options Open - Explore possible alternative supportive treatments such as naturopathy, hair caps that supposedly help to prevent hair loss, vitamin injections, etc.
Stay Organized - Keep results, notes, and questions together.
Write It Down - Take notes at appointments or bring someone you trust.
Start Journaling - Capturing your thoughts and feelings early can help you process the shock, track your journey, and create a powerful tool for healing.
Part 3
Preparing Emotionally
What to Expect
Hearing you need surgery can bring fear, grief, and a thousand questions about what life will look like.
My Advice
Give yourself grace - Bring soft clothes, slippers, lip balm, and a journal.
Reach out to friends - Lean on Your People and Reach Out Often: Friends, family, or cancer support groups can carry you when it feels heavy. You need all the love and support right now.
Keep options open - Control the Controllables: Rest, eat well, and move gently. You’ll enter surgery stronger.
Take some time off - Even if it’s a simple weekend away. And watch movies, videos, clips, anything that will make you laugh.
Part 4
Enduring Chemo & Radiation
What to Expect
Chemo and radiation are not quick fixes - they are marathons. This stage can stretch on for months and bring with it unpredictable changes: fatigue that comes and goes in waves, appetite shifts, skin sensitivity, brain fog, and emotions that swing from determination to despair. No two days look the same, and that uncertainty can feel exhausting.
My Advice
Take it one day at a time - Do not measure your progress against weeks or months. Some days, success is just getting out of bed.
Bring someone with you to chemo - Having support with you during a treatment is amazing. It helped me so much emotionally.
Listen to your body - Rest when you need to rest. Nourish yourself when you can. Pushing too hard will only set you back.
Lean into support - Accept help from friends and family, even for small things like meals, errands, or company. It matters more than you think.
Part 5
Preparing for Surgery
What to Expect
You may worry about scars, a bag, or change - but surgery is also what gives you back your future. Getting ready for surgery felt strange and packing was a blur. My anxiety was through the roof, and all I could think to grab were warm, loose, comfy clothes… and my pillow. That pillow was the one comfort I could hold onto. Be sure to follow the doctor’s instructions before surgery as there may be food limitations.
My Advice
Pack smart - Bring soft clothes, slippers, lip balm, and a journal.
Ask questions - Learn what to expect about recovery, length of stay, and follow-up care.
Seek support groups - I wish I had sought out support groups earlier - not only to hear real-life stories, but to better understand what others had gone through. Doctors often do not explain what daily life will feel like, physically or emotionally.
Consider supplemental treatment - Consider supplementing your treatment plan with supportive or alternative therapies. These can ease the process and provide strength as you navigate the medical journey.
Picture the after - Focus on the life you’re fighting for, not just the procedure.
Part 6
A Message of Strength
What to Expect
The days leading to surgery feel like standing at a crossroads. But surgery is not an ending - it’s a beginning.
My Advice
Anchor to hope - Picture yourself laughing, traveling, and living again.
See your bravery - Choosing surgery means choosing life - and that’s powerful
Navigating the First 30 Days - Post Surgery
View the Post-Surgery Guide