My Nonprofit Reviews

While relaxing on the beach in Costa Rica, Jake and I met Charlie from California, a 15-year survivor of a rare and aggressive form of jaw cancer. He revealed that he had gone to Simonton Cancer Center, which was "life-changing." Referring to his chemotherapy as candy, he said, "I knew it was working, and I said GIVE ME MORE! I will eat it like Skittles!" After a year of intense treatment, his cancer was gone, and he has never looked back. Little did I know that just a few weeks later I, too, would be joining the Simonton Cancer Counseling Center Charitable Trust.

A few months into my treatment for triple-negative breast cancer recurrence, my oncologist alerted me that, although my cancer blood markers were decreasing, he was increasing my dosage of my chemotherapy from 75% potency to 100% strength. I spent the weekend worrying about the side-effects I might experience with this new dose. Worrying that maybe the treatment wasn't working. Worrying that more hair might fall out. Worrying about decreased energy and increased nausea. Worry about how I would vacuume this week...or cook food. Or wash the dogs. And on and on.

Thankfully, Simonton Cancer Center came to my rescue, along with my family, assuring me that this increased dosage is in fact part of the plan. Now that my body has adjusted to the medicine and my side effects are more tolerable/mild, I am ready to handle more of the medicine and fight even harder.

My husband and I had been attending the Simonton program for a few weeks, and one of the most important things that happened is that my despair over my diagnosis turned into hopefulness, and I started living and learning to enjoy life more than I ever had before. I was able to speak to a counselor, outside of the regular classes, to address my fear for the upcoming treatment.

By Sunday, I started to look forward to my next treatment, knowing that I am fighting even harder with my own body's defenses, as well as the added medicine to get rid of every last cancer cell in my body. I realized I had an amazing team of doctors, nurses, dieticians, acupuncturists, naturolpaths, friends, and family. So, BRING IT ON!! !GIVE ME MORE! I will 'take' it like "Skittles!"