Sep 17, 2019

In this episode, Dr. JYP talks with Facebook Live celebrity and Cancering Warrior Princess Gina Gregory. Gina is a patient at the Mitchell Cancer Institute and has completed two surgeries, lost her hair, finished chemo and radiation treatment for breast cancer, and rang the bell twice. Her experience makes her an expert to give a detailed blueprint preparing physically and mentally for anyone's cancer surgery and journey. Plus, get those pens out and jot down all the Warrior Princess tips for pre-op planning, dealing with post-op recovery, chemotherapy fashion choices, and making the best out of a difficult situation.

Takeaways:

1. Cancer treatment is a marathon, but it can be managed with preparation, knowledge, patience, and a sense of humor.

2. Be proactive in all phases of your cancer treatment.

3. Seek advice from other patients and ask questions.

4. Always get a port.

5.Be open with your doctors and your family on what you need and want for your recovery and well-being.

6. Millions of others have cancer. Know you are not alone.

Follow Gina's journey on MCI's Facebook and Instagram at #ginasonajourney

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Quotes and Notes

If you are so serious, concerned, frightened, and all of those things, you just, you just have let go and let the process take its course. - Gina Gregory

It's very important to listen to what other cancer survivors tell you. They've been there, and more than likely what happened to them will happen to you. - Gina Gregory

Warrior is a much better, much stronger, more aggressive word than "survivor." - Gina Gregory

Millions of other women have breast cancer; you're going to be okay, just like they are. - Gina Gregory

I rang the bell twice and spent a year of dealing with being diagnosed with breast cancer. I had two surgeries, and I've gone through two phases of chemotherapy and radiation. - Gina Gregory

Just because I have gotten over this portion of treatment doesn't mean that it's ended. Even in remission, cancer is still with me. So, I have to be more proactive. I have to be this Warrior Princess, who is constantly battling this horrible disease. - Gina Gregory

Always a port. Do not even second guess. - Gina Gregory

A blood port is a place that accesses a vein that's always available, and it goes completely under the skin. - Dr. JYP

A lot of oncologists advise patients to keep a port in for up to six months or a year after treatment. - Dr. JYP

All in all my chemotherapy experience was positive. - Gina Gregory

Cancer gives you a lot of perspective because I think everybody goes through very similar things and I think you have to have a sense of humor about all of this. - Gina Gregory

Work out the things you know you will need. Get the wigs ahead of time. I made sure that I had all of the different medications and supplements and other little goodies that people told me that helped them. - Gina Gregory