Thanks, Cancer!

It’s gonna get bloody

We're not dead -- we've just been in loving isolation. In our latest episode, we discuss: Wrongly blocked from Twitter Truncation Endless mask theatre No more group chemo sessions Caregiver isolation in liminal spaces Never seeing faces of care team and patients Muffled communication Old time miserable cancer deaths Synchronized pausing Creativity Exhausting rebirth Embracing what you love unapologetically More than ever, try not to get sick and die

** Getting sick of cancer is a privileged problem of survival ** Keep moving like a shark ** Do what you can do: that is enough ** Find carcinomies who get it ** Step back when you need to

**Resentment: everything is more difficult**Relationships: celebrate the new amazing**Restoration: getting tougher**Rebuilding: plan long term

** Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/10/subway-air-pollution-new-york-washington-dc ** BBC Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-51049326

What classes would be the funniest and most useful at a cancer university?

** Cancer can be a time to get involved in the politics that now directly affect you. ** Governmental funding has contributed to most of what we know about cancer. ** Our health is dependent on our neighbor’s health--we need to care about and for each other. ** Taking care of the sick is the first sign of civilization, and everyone deserves healthcare. ** Slow progress is still progress--and cancer research is moving forward. ** Have two years of living expenses saved for a health catastrophe--and if you live in a Republican state, consider saving more. ** VOTE!

** Is it a cancer souvenir or is it just trash waiting for me to process? ** Use souvenirs as performance art-- it can be therapeutic ** Don’t be afraid to throw things out: the cancer won’t come back if you lose it or let it go. ** Ask for the things you want to keep

** People will try to stop you from getting a new pet during cancer; maybe they are right, and maybe they are wrong.. ** Borrow or petshare if possible. ** Research shows great things about people with pets, and placebo is ⅓. ** Animals you shouldn’t be around: rodents, reptiles, chickens, ducks, pocket pets. ** Pets provide a reason for living and walking. ** Taking care of someone else can be taking care of yourself. ** Be realistic about how much you are able to care for a pet. ** Have a good back up pet plan.

** Embrace the dynamic relationships ** Take a walk with your caregivers--we should all be walking more ** Know and communicate your needs and wants ** Don’t be afraid to walk alone ** You can’t control others--you can only (mostly) control yourself ** Take advantage of technology during coronatimes: phonecalls or FaceTime is the next best thing to an IRL caregiver ** Be kind to yourself and others ** Be clear and honest ** Don’t be a manager or an entertainer