Cancer patient receiving chemotherapy (Image by Freepik)
For those of you not having the misfortune of experiencing chemotherapy, you may not know that chemotherapy is an outpatient process where you receive your treatment in a chair. At the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, where I get my treatment, this is called ‘chairs’.
Today, as I wait for a chair to get my treatment, I kept thinking about the kids’ game of musical chairs and how life is a game of musical chairs that we’re all playing together, whether or not we have cancer.
Musical chairs
The game of musical chairs is played by setting up chairs in a circle with one fewer chair than the number of players. While music plays, participants walk around the set of chairs and when the music stops, they must find a chair to sit on. The player who fails to find a chair is eliminated. One chair is then removed for the next round and the process repeats until only one player remains and is declared the winner. It’s a popular party game for children.
Musical chairs has been played for hundreds of years in many different countries. Adults also play musical chairs. The Guinness World Record for the largest game of musical chairs was played in 1989 and began with 8,238 participants
Chemo chairs
Chemotherapy chairs are specialized medical furniture designed for patients undergoing infusion therapy that delivers medication through a needle or a catheter rather than orally. Chemotherapy is just one of many medical conditions treated through infusion.
I can assure you nobody wants to play chemo chairs. But today, as I wait for a chair, I can’t help thinking the game of chemo chairs is very similar to musical chairs. It’s mostly a matter of luck.
The luck of the game
I mean some folk smoke for years and never get cancer. Others, who have never even taken a puff, do. And how fair is it when a young mum or dad gets cancer? It doesn’t matter who you are, you can get cancer – or not. Even kings (King Charles) and princesses (Princess Catherine) get cancer.
I figure at my age I’ve been lucky to have enjoyed such good health for so long. If I were playing musical chairs, I’d be one of the last ones in the game.
In the game of musical chairs, while it has a lot to do with luck, it also helps to stay alert and listen to the music.
Life is difficult. Life is tough, Life can be unfair. Life is a game of musical chairs. Yes, it’s the luck of the game but it is also about keeping your wits about you.
In cancer, there are things we can do to increase our chances of winning. Dr. Kelly Turner (a researcher, lecturer and counsellor in the field of integrative oncology) suggests that this includes:
- eating healthy natural foods
- taking control of our health
- staying connected with family and friends
- maintaining physical, especially outdoor, activity – enjoy a walk in nature
- focusing on positive emotions, releasing suppressed emotions and reducing negative emotions (fear, anger, stress)
- getting plenty of sleep.
I wish all my fellow chemo chair players the best of luck.
Health matters from my side of the bed is a collection of short stories about the people I’ve met, the food I’ve eaten, the memories that have been triggered, the thoughts I have, etc. since learning of my cancer diagnosis
