Cancer Chronicles: surviving survivorship

Hello, hello my darling!

In this episode, there’s going to be some kitty meowing, alot of dog barking, and, because I can’t escape it, …poop talk.

I’ve had a complete response from stage 3aN1rectal cancer. I’ve endured chemo, radiation, surgery, and I’m on the other side of treatment. Just because I’m “done” doesn’t mean I’m not still living with the physical, mental and emotional repercussions.

Even though Social Security, my medical team, and the rest of the world assume I’m fine now, my reality is messier than that.

Today I’m digging into:

* Navigating post-treatment life and what “complete response” really looks like day-to-day.

* The brutal mismatch between cultural expectations and actual recovery.

* The joys and humiliation of digestive chaos when your rectum is smaller than a water balloon.

* How I’m starting to build my “R Team (recovery team) to support my physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

* Social Security disability denials, forms, and the sheer exhaustion of advocating for yourself when everyone assumes you’re “better.”

This is a deeply honest look at survivorship: when the cancer is gone, but life isn’t magically easy.

It’s for anyone in recovery, anyone supporting someone in recovery, and anyone who’s ever been told “you’re fine now” and felt… not fine at all.

Keep the poop talk coming and the candid truth about living with cancer in the open by supporting me via Venmo @jenni-tooley or becoming a subscriber at www.jennitooley.com

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