Yesterday evening at around 6pm, I was invited to this futuristic, modern, sort of zen room, with a spaceship in the center. The room breathed sounds of really cool jazz music, and colors of natural wood, grays and off-white.
That could have been a real jazz lounge. Surprise! This is MSK’s radiation room. The technician told me that the doors are one-foot thick, weighing a modest ton. The interior designers really nailed it with the relaxing, zen part. The only thing that seems to be missing is a Japanese zen garden.
The technician said, “Love the nice jazz music!” to which I replied in my fancy, green, and white vertical striped seersucker gown, “It’s like a lounge bar.” “Yeah, just missing the cocktails, probably not a good idea here.” “Yeah,” I said, “But I’m having a Rad Cocktail.” The laughs I got were priceless.
Grateful isn’t even enough of a word for me to use for science and the brilliant doctors and researchers that dedicate their time to find ways to fight cancer. Instead of exploring their hobbies or going on vacations, they choose to help others to get better. I know there are skeptics out there, including myself, that have many negative things to say about the cancer industry, and this is precisely why you must do your own due diligence and research. There is plenty of reason to criticize, but do so only after you have put in the time and effort to educate yourself. Treating cancer is not a one-size-fits-all solution, it is tricky, it is insanely frustrating, and it really needs to consist of ongoing two-way conversations between the doctors and patient in order to formulate a course of action that will minimize any chance of recurrence. It is of utmost importance for doctors to take the time to study their patients’ lifestyles, mental and emotional health, family history, and environmental stresses in order to understand who they are treating. There is value in Western medicine, but only if customized for the individual, but Western medicine alone is simply not enough.
Our lives are not just flesh and bones. We are built from our family history, what was passed down not only through our DNA, but also through the stories we’ve heard and the experiences our ancestors passed down to create the “whole” us. When I learned that I had cancer, by no means did that mark the beginning of my self-discovery. That started about ten years ago when I decided to divorce my ex-husband. The book that triggered a lot of my spiritual inspiration was Pema Chodron’s When Things Fall Apart. It was recommended to me by a coworker at Nordstrom, in Seattle. From outwardly appearance alone, I never would have known the pain she was going through and the alcohol she consumed to the point of puking in order to numb everything. We never officially talked about our alcohol dependency issues, but I clearly remember her mentioning that this book helped her stop drinking.
I owe my spiritual awaking to Pema Chodron. She started it all for me. I am thanking her now, from my heart to hers, knowing she is accepting my gratitude at the Abbey.
I’ll be back to Cafe Rad on Monday for my fifth Rad Cocktail. Cheers!
Rajaverse 