To the recently diagnosed

You’re stepping into a foreign world.

A world of living scan to scan. Of learning about scanxiety.

Of oncologists and treatment options and chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy. 

Of blood tests and biopsies.

Of hospital stays, side effects and drug after drug after drug.

Of just how mental and spiritual this battle is as well as physical.

Your world has changed.

New routines and rituals. 

New perspectives. 

Hope.

Pain.

Living life in the moment like you never have before. 

Trying to capture and breathe in as much of the beautiful, good things from life that you can. 

Trying not to let the darkness devour you.

I am so sorry that you and your family have to go through this. 

F**k cancer.

From "Journey through the Storm” (part memoir, part survival guide)