What the 12 Days of Christmas Looks Like for a Cancer Caregiver
A caregiver writes a poem expressing joy over her daughter’s clean scan results after having had breast cancer in her own version of the 12 Days of Christmas.
On the first day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me…
Adrienne still no evidence of disease (NED)
On the second day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me…
A clear MRI and Adrienne still NED
On the third day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me…
One cardiologist, a clear MRI and Adrienne still NED
On the fourth day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me…
No heart impairment, one cardiologist, a clear MRI and Adrienne still NED
On the fifth day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me…
“JUST IN CASE” ULTRASOUNDS
No heart impairment, one cardiologist, a clear MRI and Adrienne maybe NED
On the sixth day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me
A little bit of brain fog
“JUST IN CASE” ULTRASOUNDS
No heart impairment, one cardiologist, a clear MRI and Adrienne maybe NED
On the seventh day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me
Tossing and turning, a little bit of brain fog
“JUST IN CASE” ULTRASOUNDS
One cardiologist, no heart impairment, a clear MRI and Adrienne maybe NED
On the eighth day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me
Rising anxiety, tossing and turning, a little bit of brain fog
“JUST IN CASE” ULTRASOUNDS
No heart impairment, one cardiologist, a clear MRI and Adrienne maybe NED
On the ninth day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me
Hating the waiting, rising anxiety, tossing and turning, a little bit of brain fog
“JUST IN CASE” ULTRASOUNDS
No heart impairment, one cardiologist, a clear MRI and Adrienne maybe NED
On the tenth day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me
Fighting back tears, hating the waiting, rising anxiety, tossing and turning, a little bit of brain fog
“JUST IN CASE” ULTRASOUNDS
No heart impairment, one cardiologist, a clear MRI and Adrienne maybe NED
On the eleventh day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me
Doctor’s appointment, fighting back tears, hating the waiting, rising anxiety, tossing and turning, a little bit of brain fog
“JUST IN CASE” ULTRASOUNDS
No heart impairment, one cardiologist, a clear MRI and Adrienne maybe NED
On the twelfth day of Christmas post-cancer gave to me
NO SIGNS OF CANCER
Tears of relief, glad this one’s over, know more are coming, dreaming and hoping, someone will find it,
THE MAGIC ELIXIR
No more tests
No empty chairs
No broken hearts
And Adrienne forever NED.
Read more: What a Mother of a Cancer Survivor Really Wants for Christmas
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Exploring the Dynamics of a Male Cancer Caregiver in a Society That Encourages Men to Be Independent
February 17th 2022In this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, the founder of Jack’s Caregiver Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting men throughout the caregiving experience, explores the layered sociological factors which can affect men in unique ways when they are supporting a loved one with cancer.
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