Patient

Dancing Through the Rain with Cancer

Words painted on the wall of my first infusion center. I never imagined how much power and importance these words would have in my life that first day I sat in an infusion chair for my eight-hour long infusion of alpha interferon, intron A.

The Adulting You Can’t See

There always seems to be a buzzword for a time period in one’s life that sticks. The current word is “adulting”. It’s the word that doesn’t need explaining and represents more than the word itself.

War With Cancer

Brain cancer kills. It kills in just more than one way. It slowly started to kill me in 2019. It gave me a glimpse of Death, face to face with his beckoning eyes. He was elated that he could inscribe my name in his book of souls.

Anxiety Stream

There’s a lyric from Snoh Aalegra’s song “Violet Skies” that goes “I’ve always been a worrier, but I’ll always be a warrior”. For some reason, that lyric stuck with me when I started my cancer journey.

Adulting is Bananas

The light of the refrigerator blinded me. I was confused as to why it was so dark; I had just awakened from a nap. A nap that I had not planned. Sleep sometimes attacks me; I call them sleep attacks.

To you baba, I live

When my father was diagnosed with lung cancer, I knew I would also fall sick, very soon. Six months later, I started feeling a growing lump but thought that maybe it’s some sort of hormonal change.

Dear Younger Self

Younger Brooke,

Hi love, it’s you… future you. I wanted you to know that on October 26th, 2024– you will get a phone call that wakes you up.

a life forgotten

I grieve every life. I could have lived these past years. I miss who I was.

I Wish Someone Told Me to Try to Go with the Flow

When I was diagnosed the first time around, back in 2017, I had a pretty idealistic view of how I would navigate chemotherapy. I was convinced I would successfully use the cold cap and keep all of my hair.

A Kinder Way to Life

Cancer, like a death sentence, was pronounced on me at the age of 33. I guess I can be only thankful that I didn’t know I had it until long after my operation was over.