the paper trail.

pamphlets, informational booklets, and handouts...oh my!  the amount of paper i have received in the last week is astounding.  at least a tree's worth, i'd say.  you could probably add another with all the paperwork i've had to fill out at the various offices.  the sheer numbers of the different booklets and such are astounding!

the first thing we got was...hmmm...kind of a small, thin magazine size. it came from the surgeon's office at/during/after the diagnosis.  you have cancer.  here, have a magazine.  it's informative but fairly generalized and is titled "Understanding Breast Cancer".  i didn't look at it very closely until the next afternoon.  holding a grudge against the magazine?  possibly.  whatever.

then we meet with the chemotherapy oncologist.  more paperwork there, of course.  name, address, birthdate, insurance information, the name of your 3rd cousin's best friend's dog...  got a good folder full of information there.  a booklet "What You Need To Know About BREAST CANCER", a handout "Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome", a pamphlet "Survivors & Caregivers Support Groups", and a couple of cards with clinic, doctor, and nurse information.  they also have a section in the waiting room with even more resources.

after that is the radiation oncologist.  even more paperwork for their records.  same info, different place.  plus a "how you're handling your diagnosis page".  um, yeah.  there's another resource area there.  found an excellent book/magazine which breaks everything down and clarifies a bunch.  got 3 of those to share with family members and plan on reading it myself when we get one back.  (or i go get another one.)  the husband seemed to like that one the best.  got another folder full of stuff from the doctor..."Understanding Radiation Therapy A Guide for Patients and Families", "Radiation Therapy for Cancer", the same "What You Need To Know About BREAST CANCER" booklet, some hospital stuff, and a pamphlet from the Breast Cancer Support Program.

yeah, lots of stuff to read!  to keep it all organized i've created a 3 ring binder with a different section for each doctor, a calendar to keep up with appointments, pens, folders, and paper for notes.  we call it the "cancer chronicles" or, more often, the "boobie bible" (little "b", not big "B"!).  it's already darn full, lemme tell ya.

all of these things have great information and are very helpful for us.  we understand more each time we read through it but i think the titles could have more pizzazz!  like the radiation stuff...why not call it "Radiation: No, You Won't Glow In The Dark"? dang.  still hoping for that super power.  and the "What You Need To Know" one...what about "Good Boobs Gone Rogue: A Tactical Manual"?  those sound much more informative, don't you think?