By Scott Bond
Columnist | Posted: Monday, October 9, 2006 12:00 am
In recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to share my perspective as a breast cancer survivor. I hope that my story provides you with a perspective that you find helpful.
In 1997, my family and I decided that working for the Council of Governments was a good decision for all of us, even though it meant several months of commuting back home to Washington while the kids finished school for the year.
With a six-hour commute each way, I found that I had plenty of time to listen to music, appreciate the scenery and think about our new life in Oregon. Oddly enough, it was the time in the car that brought me to discover a small lump in my right breast, right where the seat belt came across my chest.
This small discovery had no immediate impact on my life. I was busy, and we were on the verge of making a big move as a family. As a man, I was not conditioned to think about breast cancer and honestly, it never occurred to me that this disease would ever be an issue.
Within a few weeks, I decided that a visit to the doctor was in order. After a surgical procedure to remove the lump from my breast, I received a call from the surgeon on Saturday morning. The lump was cancer, and I would need to make another appointment to discuss my treatment options.
In that moment, my life changed in a dramatic way. A diagnosis of breast cancer became the focus of my attention and, as many people do, I became a bit fanatical with researching the disease and the treatment options available.
I also began to look for information that would guide me in selecting treatment options that would recognize the differences in treating a man versus a woman with breast cancer.
In the end, it made little difference. I began to realize that treatment planning was more about finding a talented medical team that could work with me and provide me the support that I needed.
I needed a team of medical practitioners who would take on the challenges of treating a man with breast cancer and working with me as an individual. I needed a team that would work with my belief system and my convictions that complementary and alternative medicine would play a large role in my journey back to health.
Recently, I was asked by a friend if I would talk to her father. Her father had reached a confusing crossroads in treating several serious health issues. He was trying to juggle conflicting advice from several doctors as well as practitioners of complementary medicine.
We discussed his role in managing his health care team and the concept of becoming the CEO of the team. As the CEO of his team, he would hold the responsibility for making the large decisions in terms of treatment and whether the treatments were consistent with his values and beliefs.
He would ask the critical question, "Does the treatment fit my vision of what I want my life to be like?"
In my breast cancer treatment, I discovered that I was paying good attention to the physical issues and ignoring the emotional and spiritual needs in my life. In my belief system, breast cancer, like most diseases, has layers that go beyond the physical treatment of a problem in the body.
I began to ask what emotional and spiritual issues do I need to address as a part of the cancer treatment over the long haul? How do I begin to look inward at who I am? How do I discover what I need inside to be healthy?
Nine years later, I still ask myself these questions. This is a long journey that I suspect will last a lifetime.
While my breast cancer treatments for the physical disease lasted three years, I still consider my "treatment" to consist of a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, acupuncture and herbs. The emotional and spiritual "treatment" consists of regular meditation and inner work to continue my walk towards health at all levels.
This month we acknowledge the success of research and treatment of breast cancer. We work to raise the awareness for all of us in prevention and early detection of breast cancer. We work to break any barriers to treatment whether they are financial, cultural, sexual or policy related.
We honor all of the survivors and applaud the courage it takes to survive breast cancer, and we celebrate those who have taken the helm as CEOs of their wellness team.
Scott Bond is director of Senior and Disability Services for Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments, the Area Agency on Aging for Benton, Linn and Lincoln counties. He can be reached at 541-812-6008 or sbond@ocwcog.org.