Because every patient deserves clarity, not confusion.
When treatment begins, we’re exhausted and suddenly handed lists of medications with names we can’t pronounce. We trust our care teams — and we should — but trust becomes stronger when we also understand what goes into our bodies. No patient should feel lost in their own treatment.
Here are two moments from chemo that taught me why awareness matters.
The “Supplement” That Was Actually a Laxative
During my first cycles, I took magnesium hydroxide daily, assuming it was a muscle-supporting supplement. It sounded like magnesium, so I believed it would help my body recover without checking it further. I had severe diarrhea and blamed chemo — naturally.
Later, while looking it up online, I learned it isn’t a muscle helper at all — it’s a laxative for constipation. I had taken it incorrectly, without understanding what it actually was. Not because anyone failed me, but because I assumed instead of verifying.
The Hormone Injection in My Fridge
I brought home a hormone injection to be administered by a nurse. She never came because her schedule was full. Days later, the oncology team called to check if I’d received it. Something looked wrong.
The medication on my prescription did not match the one I was given. The wrong injection was waiting in my fridge. Pure luck — not protocol — prevented a mistake. That day I made one rule: never receive a medication without understanding it first.
Awareness Is Not Distrust — It’s Safety
Now I always:
✔️ Ask what a medication is for
✔️ Ask about side effects and when to report them
✔️ Confirm dosage and timing
✔️ Check if it should be taken with food or on an empty stomach
✔️ Photograph medications before receiving them
✔️ Look up reliable cancer-specific sources
This isn’t challenging doctors — it’s partnering with them. We are part of our own care team.
Cancer treatment clouds our memory and energy. That’s exactly why clarity matters. Understanding medication isn’t paranoia. It’s protection.
A Message for Every Patient is
You’re not “difficult” for asking. You’re not “annoying” for double-checking. You’re honoring your right to safe treatment.
Every patient deserves to know:
✔️ What we’re taking
✔️ Why we’re taking it
✔️ How and when to take it
✔️ Possible side effects
We’re not passive passengers. When patients are informed, we’re supported and empowered — not overwhelmed.
Knowledge isn’t resistance. Knowledge is care.
