Today it was time to visit the pleasant vampires and have blood work done. The results actually came back but because I don’t know what I’m looking at so I am waiting until somebody calls me because I me and I know I start to freak out. Yes I know it’s completely unrealistic and silly but blood work makes me antsy.

I also met a really awesome lady today. She is just beginning her survivor journey and was waiting for bloodwork like me. These waiting rooms are lonely places these days because you have to come in by yourself, and if you’re not attached to an oncologist there’s certain locations at Penn Medicine where you can’t just walk in to get blood drawn anymore.

It’s always so crazy to meet somebody who’s in a place that you remember. With the questions like will the hot flashes get better. And after you’ve dealt with hot flashes for a few years you could pass on the tips of things that are triggers like caffeine, sugar, alcohol, stressful situations.

And because no one ever told me after radiation I should keep an eye on my thyroid I also suggest that anyone else coming out of treatment.

I really like this woman and I referred her to the only breast cancer group I’ve consistently been a part of over the course of 10 years.

One thing we talked about is something I remember pretty well. When you’re first finished with treatment you are relieved. It’s like a giant weight off your shoulders. But I swear sometimes it’s the people around you who are more excited you are finished with treatment than the actual patient. And it’s not because we aren’t happy that we finished this part of the journey, I think it’s simply because we have been in this uphill race to git r’ done for lack of a better description. I remember back then that it was equal parts relief that I was finally finished, mixed with my gosh I’m finally finished and I know that doesn’t sound like it makes sense but in a weird way it does…your head has to catch up with everything. After all, one thing that breast cancer can do is crowd your head with just so much stuff.

Anyway it did me good to meet this woman and I hope I was helpful to her. She was so nice.

OK people I am going to keep on keeping on with my day.