☘️Mana-min's "Cancer Survivor" Journal: Chemotherapy Treatment in July, August, and September, Part 3
■The morning of the "sixth" and final chemotherapy IV.
I felt a strange mix of emotions—the joy of having made it this far...
and the heaviness of knowing it wasn't over yet...
a truly strange sensation.
I waited for my turn in the waiting room,
was called in as usual,
and lay down on the bed as usual.
I never did get used to the feeling of the needle, not even by the very end.
Drip,
drip,
drip,
the IV fluid fell.
Thinking that this time would be the last, I just spent those moments in silence.
Eventually, the IV finished, and the needle was removed.
"That completes the entire cycle."
Hearing those words from the nurse, I felt a sense of relief.
Just simply—
"Ah, it's finally over," I thought,
and the moment I let out a deep breath,
along with heartfelt relief,
there was a small sense of happiness.
★On the way home. 🚘💨💨💨
The sky was the same as always ☀
The wind was blowing just as it always does.
I got home and made some ☕ coffee.
Watching the steam rise,
I just sat there blankly.
There was nothing special.
But I had definitely made it this far.
I felt that was enough.
★July, August, and September chemotherapy treatment, 1 cycle...
Summary.
"Toward a morning of closure"
A total of 6 "chemotherapy IV treatments"
The treatment for my left breast cancer, which began in April, finally reached a milestone, and in June, my doctor suggested a new treatment method:
"chemotherapy."
■ Amidst a lot of hesitation...
The "chemotherapy treatment" that started in July—
with each session,
I gradually became more accustomed to
my body, my mind, and how to spend my time.
There were side effects.
・Fatigue and
・Nausea
And above all, "I was just so sleepy."
That is what it was like.
Even so, I trusted my doctor's words
and kept in mind
to maintain my daily life as much as I could.
★Early morning walks.
🌄I walk slowly in the fresh,
"energy-filled" early morning air.
The time I spent feeling the sunlight🌄 was
a precious moment for me.
For that time alone, I was able to forget the pain of the side effects.
By the time a week had passed, my physical condition settled down
and I was able to return to a state close to my normal life.
★I used that time to immerse myself in knitting.
👗A dress and ensemble knitted with cotton yarn.
While taking on large projects that I couldn't easily do in my normal life,
I found joy even amidst my anxiety.
★Chemotherapy... side effects on me
As the treatment progressed, other changes
gradually appeared in my body.
・Discomfort in my mouth and swollen gums.
Hard to eat. Hard to speak.
・My nails became brittle and prone to breaking.
The inconvenience of not being able to pick things up as I wanted.
I couldn't even open the cap of a plastic bottle.
The lethargy and nausea settled down after about a week.
For the remaining week, the symptoms would subside
and I would spend time on things I liked.
That was the rhythm I developed.
★And then came the fifth IV drip.
After the two hours were over,
"Only one more time to go"
that thought brought me a great sense of relief.
★September 24th was the day my "6th" and final chemotherapy IV drip ended.
The day that the long "chemotherapy treatment"
reached a milestone.
The season was turning to autumn,
and I could gradually feel
a chill in the morning air.
The leaves on the street trees were also beginning to turn color.
The effects of the side effects still remained in my body.
My nails were weak, and I had lost a few teeth.
Even so, strangely, my heart was calm.
"I am alive now."
I felt that just that alone was enough to be happy.
And above all, what made me happy was that
my hair did not fall out.
As a result, I was able to
return to work at the nursery school.
Although the nature of my work has changed,
being able to return to a place
with children 👦👧👶 again
was so joyful it brought me to tears.
★Finished the final IV drip. ~ "The next morning" 🌄
First thing in the morning, I brewed
coffee ☕ as I always do.
*Until now...
I had never felt that "morning coffee"
tasted good the day after an IV drip.
I could only smell the aroma.
But that morning was different.
When I took a sip...
I could clearly taste the flavor.
"Ah, it's delicious."
That is what I thought.
I think that was surely because
"it's over"
I felt a sense of relief.
I think.
While drinking my coffee ☕, I whispered softly in my heart.
I finally made it this far.
I did well to make it this far.
The morning light streaming through the window
was gently wrapping around me.
*Afterword
Things I suddenly "felt" while on "leave from the nursery school"
"Is it okay to just go on like this?"
I held that thought somewhere in my heart.
★To you, who are still living each day to the fullest.
《Mana-min's Blog》 is
From the days when I almost lost sight of what was important
because I was too obsessed with "doing my best,"
triggered by the reality of my "left breast cancer diagnosis"
re-examining my life
This is a story about realizing what is "truly important."
■ I was looking back on the days I spent dedicated to network marketing.
While I was involved in network marketing,
I noticed something that felt "off."
Things I realized might be "wrong"
・Hearts drifting apart.
・The "misguided health practices" I learned about
after my left breast cancer diagnosis.
・And "now," having learned
what "true health" is in the end.
What "mana-min" discovered during this turning point in her life
is nothing extraordinary.
◎ To those who are living while struggling and feeling lost just as I was—
I offer you these words:
"It is okay to stop for a moment," and "You are fine just as you are."
I hope these words reach you.
＊ If you are currently...
・Working so hard that you feel like you are being chased by something,
・Or if you have lost sight of what true happiness is,
If I could be the "trigger" for you
to "take that first step"...that is my wish.
That is what I hope for.
Please feel free to reach out here as well.😀
⬇
#CancerSurvivor
#LeftBreastCancer
#ChemotherapyTreatment
#SideEffects
#MorningSun🌄
#ACupOfCoffee☕
#NetworkMarketing