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What I Learned: 6 Questions For Lung Cancer Patient Emily Bennett Taylor
Lo Que Aprendí: Seis Preguntas Para La Paciente De Cáncer Pulmonar, Emily Bennett Taylor
04/16/2016 06:00AM | 9636 views
Five City of Hope patients who have journeyed through cancer will welcome 2016 atop City of Hope's Tournament of Roses Parade float on Jan. 1. The float’s theme, "The Miracle of Science with Soul," adds a deeper dimension to the parade theme of "Find your Adventure."
Emily Bennett Taylor was getting
ready to celebrate her second wedding anniversary with her college sweetheart
in June of 2012 when she learned she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung
cancer. Emily, then 28-years-old, was a former college athlete who had led a
healthy and active lifestyle and had never smoked. She quickly began treatment
at City of Hope and vowed she would do whatever it took to survive. After eight
rounds of chemotherapy, as well as surgery and radiation, Emily is now in remission
and getting ready for her next adventure – becoming a mom.
Here, Emily answers questions about her diagnosis and treatment at City of
Hope.
What was your most pivotal emotional moment during treatment?
Other than the cancer diagnosis, the most emotional moment of my treatment was
when Dr. (Karen) Reckamp told me she thought
it was time to explore the option of surgery. This was a hugely important
milestone because surgery is not typical protocol for Stage 4 patients like me.
When Dr. Reckamp gave the go-ahead to consult with surgeons, it was the
culmination of all my hopes and dreams since Day One – getting the opportunity
to cut this damn cancer out of me. Knowing that I'd finally beaten so many odds
to get to the point of even being able to consider surgery – that was hugely
emotional for me.
What practical tips can you give other patients going through treatment?
- Sleep – Sleep as much as you can, as often as you can. Your body needs time to recover and let the treatments do their work.
- Celebrate – Celebrate even the littlest of milestones. (I woke up today and didn't feel like crap!)
- Stay ahead of the nausea – Talk to your doctor about adding an anti-nausea medicine in with your infusion; then, stay on a regular schedule of anti-nausea meds, even in the middle of the night.
- Eat small meals – Being too full or too hungry makes nausea worse; the best way to prevent nausea is to eat small meals throughout the day. Stay away from foods that have strong odors, as they may make you less likely to eat. If possible, ask a family member or friend to cook for you and bring over a meal. Everyone wants to help, and this is a great way to let them.
- Drink water – Staying hydrated is so important. Drink lots of water during treatment. If water tastes weird to you, experiment by trying different types of bottled water, or at different temperatures, until you find one you like.
- Stay warm – Chemotherapy can make you cold, so bundle up during infusions. Warm fuzzy socks, lots of layers and a blanket. And I recommend bringing entertainment – my favorite was to watch comedies since it took my mind off things and made me laugh.
What family member or loved one did
you rely on most?
I can say with all honesty that I would not be here today had it not been for
my loving husband, Miles. When I was diagnosed, I think he was probably more
scared than I was. But he used that fear to spring into action. He researched
treatments, coordinated doctor appointments and made sure I was sleeping,
eating and drinking enough, all while working full-time.
Knowing that he was taking care of everything else allowed me to focus on
getting strong for my treatment, fighting through the pain and resting up for
the next challenge ahead.
Which person at City of Hope had the biggest impact – and how did he/she
help?
I give an enormous amount of credit to my oncologist, Dr. Reckamp. She is truly
amazing. But there is definitely one unsung hero of mine, and that's Carrie
Christiansen, a registered nurse. As a cancer patient you have a ton of
questions and there isn't always someone to answer them. Carrie always made
time to answer all of our questions thoroughly, whether via email, phone or in
person. From the second we saw her smiling face, I could feel the stress rush
out of us at every appointment. And I know she's like that with all her
patients. She's truly amazing.
What could a family member or loved one do to help a patient that they might
not think of?
When a loved one is in pain, we want to help – it's just human nature. But for
a cancer patient, even thinking of answers to the question, "How can I
help?" can be overwhelming. It's hard to ask people for something, even if
they've offered. We were the most grateful to the friends and family who did
something kind without asking – bringing over a meal, stocking the
refrigerator, offering to drive me to an appointment, stopping by to take our
dog for a walk, getting our car vacuumed out so the dust didn't aggravate my
allergies.
Doing something helpful is made that much sweeter when the patient doesn't have
to come up with the idea.
How do you continue to "find your adventure" after your journey
with cancer?
Since treatment, my husband and I have taken a few vacations. Usually they are
laid-back and relaxed. But last year in Tulum, Mexico, I was able to climb a
Mayan temple and stand at the top, overlooking the beautiful jungle below. It
was invigorating. Not only that, but I now only have one lung, so climbing 137
feet up a steep pyramid was a huge accomplishment.
Beyond that, our next "adventure" will begin with the arrival of our
twins, due via surrogate in April 2016. We are so excited for the next
adventure in life after cancer.
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