On cold-capping and what to say to someone who has cancer | Health Update #3
On cold-capping and what to say to someone who has cancer | Health Update #3
The latest and greatest of hospital life
Welcome to Gen Z Translator. This is What’s Up Wednesday, where I give you a personal update on a Wednesday. Clever, right? If you’re new, you can subscribe here and follow me on X/Twitter or Threads. Views and experiences my own.
Before you read on, I wanted to highlight some giving opportunities this holiday season. My new friend Katie Smolich runs Beanie Love Foundation, which gives back to children and teens who have cancer around the country. Their Christmas Amazon wishlist is here and a tax deductible donation is available here. Another friend I met at a young adult support group is raising money for his second battle against cancer. His GoFundMe is here. You can also subscribe to him on YouTube @NoLimitNolan. Thank you for your consideration!
Second round of chemo yesterday. Slay.1
If you can’t already tell, I’ve taken a laugh-through-the-pain, dark humor approach to my situation. There’s no right or wrong way to respond to having cancer, they’ll tell you. So, I get to continue to crack jokes.
I was very tired this time around. I didn’t sleep well the night before, probably from a combination of nerves and being amped up on steroids that help me get through the first couple of days. On the bright side, I got to see Percy Jackson and the Olympians on the big screen yesterday! Hopefully more to come soon on this when I work up the energy for a review.
I’m told this round is when I’ll lose the most hair. Procedures and anesthesia aside, that’s probably been the hardest part about this experience. Having lived with invisible chronic illnesses, I know how annoying it can be when you don’t “look” like you have any issues. Swinging to the opposite side of that pendulum, however, is going to be even harder.
It’s easy to joke while I still look like a “normal” person with eyebrows, eyelashes, and the like. I’m trying to do what I can to save my hair, hence cold-capping to freeze my hair follicles during chemo. I’m supposed to lose less hair by doing it, or at least have an easier time growing it back. My therapist told me that I don’t have to conflate self-preservation with vanity right now. I’m doing what I need to do to persevere.
I’ve been following YouTuber Grace Helbig below as she fights triple positive breast cancer – the same cancer I have. She’s also cold-capping, so if you’re interested, check her journey out below.
The first thing I hear from most doctors when they come into see me is, “You’re so young. I’m sorry this is happening to you.” “You’re too young to be here. I’m sorry this is happening to you.” “Wow, you’re young. I’m sorry this is happening to you.”
I think most people are in shock when they hear. The majority of women who have breast cancer are over 40. It’s a hard fact to reconcile. I know it’s hard to process.
Seems obvious to say, but I’m learning a lot through this experience. Mostly about what not to say to someone who has cancer. It can be really easy in conversation to jump to someone else you know is struggling, either with another illness or tragedy.
It’s hard to feel normal when that’s all someone wants to talk to you about. I just want to hear about your day or something funny you saw that reminds you of me. (I used to joke that my love language is social media, and by that I mean DM2 me memes).
Hank Green did a great video about this. He goes over practical gifts you can get cancer patients. His bottom line, though, is that most people just appreciated other people taking the time to hang out with them or talk to them. He also says in his caption “Help the helpers.” Couldn’t retweet more.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season. Tell someone you love them.
You can read my last health update here ⤵️
See the full Gen Z Dictionary here.
Slay: Simple enough. Slayyyyy
DM: Direct message