It was extremely difficult to wake up to the news this morning that Trump is our next president. A million thoughts came to my mind in terms of what it is going to mean for women, Deaf people, people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, minority groups, individuals with disabilities, domestic and sexual violence survivors, and etc. etc. It is clear that this country is divided. I can only hope for unification. But how? I don't see it but am holding out for hope nonetheless. Now how is this political depression even related to my cancer blog? Let me explain in a moment.
I dragged my hopeless self to the Wilmot Cancer Center at 7 AM to do my routine bloodwork. As I said to my friends, life does continue and I have to continue participating in my surveillance plan. I did feel for a moment, "What is the point!?!" but I pushed myself to move forward. I will see my oncologist Tuesday morning for my next three-month appointment for additional screening tests.
I walked home from the cancer center and it already started raining. I didn't have an umbrella but I walked very slowly in the rain instead of running. I figured the weather gods were crying and that I might as well cry along with them.
I dived into my work all day today while watching the news and Facebook news feeds. What broke my heart is seeing how the division of this nation has driven a wedge into the endometrial cancer support groups on Facebook. We turn to each other for support and resources. I observed with sadness as those group members who once lifted up each other immediately turn against each other. The argument is mainly over Obamacare. There are members who are terrified that they might lose the insurance coverage that helped save their lives and continue with their surveillance plans. There are others who appear to be insured with insurance coverages through sources other than the healthcare marketplace who insist that Obamacare sucked and that Trump would come up with something better. Fear and hatred are on the rise within those groups.
I was on an Obamacare plan August 2015-January 2016. This insurance coverage was instrumental in making sure I could continue with my surveillance plan AND to treat the post-surgical infection I had that lasted over six months. It was Obamacare that paid for my surgery #3 in October 2015 to get rid of the infection and I got follow-up care to monitor the surgical wound. I am on a group health plan right now but I am forever grateful that Obamacare was available to me when I needed it the most. I know there are numerous women who are battling endometrial cancer who depend on Obamacare. The same is true for numerous individuals who are battling other types of cancer. Granted, Obamacare costs were on the rise and that was frustrating for me. That needed to be addressed and Hillary was commited to working on that. Completely removing Obamacare and replacing it with what? I have no idea what is up Trump's sleeves but I can only conclude that it is definitely a bad time to have cancer.
