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Kathy Bienapfl (kbienapfl)


November 2, 2007


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kbienapfl


Minneapolis, Minnesota


Anal Cancer


Squamous Cell


July 2006


Stage 4


No


Lobectomy


yes


Taxol (chemical name: paclitaxel)


Cancer Survivor


The fear I see in the eyes of the people I love.


Appreciate and enjoy every day.


Lower back pain
Vaginal pressure
Low energy


June 2007; Lower right lung wedge resection


Pelvic radiation; July – September 2006
Side effects became so severe required hospitalization during final week of treatment.


Currently on taxol/carboplatin
Prior treatment of Folfox 6 showed no sign of lung met shrinkage.




kbienapfl's Cancer Blog

February 1, 2008

Mental RecoveryViews: 728

I have recovered from my less light day of yesterday.

After going back to my post, I could see how my communication of crying about food could be misunderstood and I feel I need to explain.

My initial frustration came to light when I realized that the focus required to incorporate these new recipes into my life would be difficult to create physically and mentally. You know how it is…you have your top 10 recipes that you know and fall back on when you really don’t want to think hard about what to serve. Simply put, my chemo brain does not allow me to think very hard about anything. I find it terribly hard to focus. New things are overwhelming…not fun like they once were. Thus, the initial mental crack.

All I really want to do is provide enjoyment to friends and family. Provide Dick & Eileen the comfort of a home cooked meal to come home to. Entertain with friends and serve delicious cuisine in the comfort of their homes. So, it really doesn’t come down to the food. The real story is my acknowledgment that I am not the person I once was and I am not able provide ‘my’ gift.

I think what put me over the edge yesterday was a woman eavesdropping on my conversation with the store clerk. She heard me explain to the clerk that I was practicing Qigong (http://www.springforestqigong.com/). This woman came out of left field and basically told me I was dancing with the devil because of my meditation and movement of energy. She explained to me that as a Christian, we should never ‘dabble’ with our energy, as that is completely against Christian belief. She basically told me if I continue to practice Qigong, I am allowing the devil into my temple.

So…it’s not food, okay? It’s the fact that my body hurts more with each chemotherapy treatment. My brain is turning to mush. The pleasure that I derived from providing appealing and delicious nourishment to friends and family is basically ending. Oh…and I guess I’m becoming a devil worshiper if I choose to continue to practice Eastern medicine.

Some days it all gets to be too much. Yesterday was one of those days. Today I recognize my frustration and now I can learn from it and move on to more positive things…learning new ways to enjoy life.

I can’t believe that lady said that to you. How strange. Glad you are feeling better today. I know exactly how you feel. Happy Friday!

Well, I can’t believe that someone listened in on your conversation and then made the comments that she did either. What she did and what she said is not Christian at all. Hang in there. That’s what I’m doing tonight. Just hanging in there.

Oh.. if only people like that lady in the store would take her energy and apply it to help someone instead of being so rude and wasting her energy on being so mean! I actually pray that she never has to make the decisions that we have to make every day….

Hang in there and feel better!

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Posts: 32
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Comments: 126
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