Let’s face it. 2020 was cancer. While the majority of the world was shutting down due to a pandemic in March, Stephanie began having unusual digestive pain. At first multiple deliveries from DoorDash seemed to be the cause. Then the possibility of sudden lactose intolerance was considered.
She managed to meet with her primary physician on April 28th at a time when the healthcare system was severely overwhelmed. Her physician had a theory, and after eliminating any excuses a 34-year-old woman would hear, she was able to get her scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy. The theory was correct. A 13-inch tumor was found along the intestine wall.
When Stephanie was diagnosed with colon cancer early in November 2020, she viewed it with humor and curiosity. Her coping skills relating to medical issues have been honed for years.
Team Hedgehog
Supportive conversations can start simply and accidentally bring out the mascot for a fight against cancer.
A week later, the hedgehog grew to encompass Stephanie, Oscar, the pug, their family, their friends, the entire team at Huntsman Cancer Institute, and everyone who has been supportive.
Renaming Cancer
Cancer is terrifying. It’s the monster under the bed that doesn’t discriminate. All ages, genders, races, nationalities, and their grandma are up for grabs.
When you’re dealing with symptoms at 34 (and still look younger than 30) for a disease you’re not supposed to have until you’re at least 50, how do you make that easier to face?
You name it. Rather you rename it. Something to make it feel smaller and more ridiculous. (See Pennywise as an example.) Stephanie previously used this technique to personify her combination of major depressive disorder and anxiety. It took in the physical traits of essentially her on her toughest days, someone who needed a friend, patience, and understanding. She borrowed an algebraic mnemonic and named her Pemdaa. (Please excuse my depression and anxiety.) It didn’t magically erase the illness, but it was a new way to manage it.
Her brother Tyler helped give the cancer a new name. Stephanie has binge-watched every episode of House. There was a running gag used 70 times of Lupus being the most likely to be suggested but not an accurate ruling. One time it was correct. 2nd place goes to Sarcoidosis with 44.
Henceforth, Stephanie’s colon cancer was dubbed Lupus S. Coidosis. It started as an inside joke but quickly took out the fear that the word “cancer” comes with.
Reimagining Cancer
Now that Lupus S. Coidosis can bring a smirk to her face better than “colon cancer” ever could, she still needed the visual to keep it from becoming omnipresent. Maybe it was because she’d recently watched Disney’s “Hercules” while dealing with the symptoms, or the familiar background noise of Oscar playing Smite, but she began scrolling through mythical monsters. (Both. Both is good.)
The Lernaean Hydra
Famous for growing two more heads anytime one gets cut off. She had poisonous breath and blood so toxic even its tracks were deadly. She lived in the lake of Lerna in the Argolid and from its murky swamps, the monstrous serpent would rise and terrorize the city. There, beneath the waters was an entrance to the Underworld and Hydra was its guardian.
Other cancer patients later told Stephanie this was precisely what it felt like they were fighting. Even Heracles didn’t defeat it alone. According to the myth his servant Iolaus burned away the heads of Hydra to avoid the regeneration of new ones. They buried the immortal ninth head under a huge rock. Luckily, Team Hedgehog isn’t letting Stephanie fight alone.
One of those patients mentioned the idea to their kid who copes through drawing. Hours before surgery, Stephanie saw this on the forum.
Team Hedgehog 