How to Live on the Edge
Page 25
Uh-oh. I peek at Dad, who looks equally uneasy. We’d decided to sign up for this class for that exact reason. Easy A. Something we might be reasonably good at. A gentle introduction to the community college experience. No homework (hopefully). We’ve selected the same table, at the back—the perfect place for slackers.
“For your first assignment in Cooking with Herbs and Spices, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the breadth and variety of options at your work station.” Call-me-Carla circles the room, drumming her fingers on countertops as she moves.
I study the overwhelming array of containers.
“I give you permission,” Call-me-Carla says, raising her arms up high, as though conducting a savory orchestra. “Open the lids. Smell, taste, dissect them with your senses.”
I hand a container of nutmeg to Dad. He unscrews the top and sniffs. Seeming unimpressed, he fumbles for his phone. I inhale the scent of cloves, and it makes me immediately think of gingerbread cookies and pumpkin pie. I move on to peppermint, tarragon and thyme.
About ten containers later, Dad messages me. Carla really loves herbs and spices.
Clearly, I message back. We’re already her problem students, on our phones during class. Luckily she’s more hands-off than a high school teacher.
You wanna drop the class?
No. You?
Only if you do.
You’re such a bad influence, for a dad.
I haven’t had much practice.
Lesson one: Do not encourage your slacker daughter to drop a class on the first day. Lesson two: Do not text during class.
Oops. Putting phone away now.
Call-me-Carla taps her fingers next to my peppermint container, so I slide my phone under my arm. “Next, I’d like you to wander the room, to examine the herb and spice collections of your fellow students. You’ll notice that the same spice can come in different forms. There’s ground nutmeg. There’s whole nutmeg. Et cetera, et cetera.”
We begrudgingly stand up and mill around the classroom to other students’ work stations, sniffing on command. I feel a bit like a puppy, walking around the room, smelling everything.
“Over the course of this class, we’re going to explore different flavor profiles.” Call-me-Carla raises her voice to be heard over the low tones of conversation. “Then we’re going to experiment. Which spices can be combined for more intricate flavors. Which supplement each other. Which don’t pair well.”
Dad taps a bit of thyme into his palm and tastes it. “You know what your problem is?” I say. “You’ve got too much thyme on your hands.”
He breaks into a smile. “Very funny.”
Call-me-Carla continues to speak, loudly, so we quiet down to listen. “In this class, I’m going to educate you about the rules of classic cooking. And then teach you how to break them.” With that, she gives us another assignment—to pick our favorite three spices and describe their flavors on the index cards she’s placed at our stations. Meanwhile, she’ll stop by each station to meet us personally.
A minute later she’s strolling over to us. “Hi, you two. What’re your names?”
“Ryan.” Dad reaches out to shake her hand.
“And I’m Cayenne,” I pop right back, trying to act as saucy as my name sounds.
“Cayenne?”
“Yes.” I smile brightly. “As in pepper.”
Her eyes widen, checking me out, probably to see if I’m the type to mess with her. “Seriously?” She must not have read her roll sheet very carefully.
“Seriously. Blame my father.” I grin and point at him.
Pause for digestion, while she looks back and forth between us. At last she surrenders to a smile, as if she’s deciding not to care whether I’m giving her a hard time or not. “Well, in that case, you’re both in the right place.”
I smile at Dad. “Yeah, I think so too.”
Author’s Note
I inherited my BRCA gene mutation from my father’s side of the family. His cousin died of ovarian cancer in her early forties. His mother and his two sisters fought breast cancer, and he had prostate cancer. My maternal side of the family is rife with non-BRCA breast cancer as well. While no one particularly wants to be told they have an increased chance of cancer, I consider myself lucky to have learned about my BRCA gene mutation through genetic testing. Information is power, and this information allowed me to make difficult but important decisions about my future.
This story was sparked by a “what if” that materialized in my psyche. What if I’d known my BRCA status before I got married and had children? What if I’d known during my vulnerable teen years? How might it have colored my life choices?
The field of cancer research and prevention is ever changing. BRCA 1 and 2 gene mutations account for a small percentage of breast cancer cases. For anyone with a history of breast cancer, a helpful first step is consultation with a genetic counselor. If your risk is high, consider joining an in-person or online support group to hear what other people in the same situation are doing. Surgery is one approach to prevention, but there are many others. It’s a personal decision. I believe that the recommendations for those with BRCA 1 and 2 gene mutations will change dramatically over the next twenty years. If you are diagnosed with this mutation, consult with your doctor about your options.
Anyone can get breast cancer, not just cisgender women. In fact, although breast cancer is less common in cisgender men, the mortality rate is higher, since men often take longer to seek medical treatment. This may be due to lack of education about male breast cancer. Everyone with breast tissue can benefit from being vigilant and consulting a doctor about any concerns.
Regardless of whether you have a history of breast cancer in your family, educate yourself about your body. Self-examinations are helpful and if you notice any changes, consult with your physician. For more information, check out the resources on the next page.
Further Resources
Prevention
#KnowYourLemons Breast Health Education
knowyourlemons.com
Prevent Cancer Foundation
preventcancer.org/education/preventable-cancers/breast-cancer
World Health Organization
www.who.int/cancer/detection/breastcancer/en/index3.html
Managing Cancer Risk
beBRCAware
www.bebrcaware.com/brca-resources/support-and -education.html
The BRCA Umbrella
brcaumbrella.ning.com
FORCE—Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered
www.facingourrisk.org/index.php
National Cancer Institute
cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca -fact-sheet
Cancer Treatment, Research, Resources, and Support
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/cancer/index.htm
HIS Breast Cancer Awareness
www.hisbreastcancer.org
Male Breast Cancer Coalition
malebreastcancercoalition.org
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
ww5.komen.org
When Your Parent Has Cancer: A Guide for Teens
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education /When-Your-Parent-Has-Cancer.pdf
Acknowledgments
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to publicly acknowledge, honor, and thank those humans who have touched my life. This is about so much more than my writing process. It’s about the professionals who dedicate their lives to researching prevention and treatment. (Keep it up! We need you.) It’s about medical staff—ranging from empathic receptionists, to mammogram techs, to genetic counselors, to ICU nurses and physicians. It’s about the community of loved ones who wrap around us in support. It’s about the lives lost.
My heartfelt thanks to the medical professionals who have supported me and my
family over the years, especially the skilled medical staff at Kaiser Permanente, who educated me about my options and guided me through the process with respect. My complete gratitude to the following medical professionals: Dr. Gary Lieb, Dr. Lucila Ortiz-Barron, Mary Stephenson, R.N., Jasmine Jose, R.N., Dr. Dean Nora, Jayamol Pachi, R.N., Nora Rosario, R.N., Dr. Justin Kane, Dr. Sendia Kim, Dr. Jeffrey Martin, Dr. Sherri Meredith Cheatham, Dr. E. Kristina Kang, Dr. Stephanie Smith, Dr. Jonathon Lipana, Dezarae Rutledge, L.V.N., Dr. Goldin, Dr. Saul, Dr. Huynh, Dr. Tipton, Erin Grace Nielsen, M.S., L.C.G.C., Holly Feneht of The Gilded Lily, and Grossman Imaging Centers.
Thank you to Kaiser Permanente for their focus on patient care, education, and prevention. I am grateful to have high quality medical insurance/coverage. I cannot imagine having to worry about cost when wrestling with these complex life decisions. Everyone deserves this comfort.
Thank you to expert readers Gwen Smith; Erin Grace Nielsen, MS, LCGC; and Annie Burrows, MS, CGC, who shared their insights and perspective. If I’ve gotten this right, it’s largely due to your help. Any mistakes that remain are my own. A thousand thank yous to Amy, for your vision, reassuring presence, and impressive tightening skills; to Deborah for your guidance and support; to Alexandra and Erin for your partnership and support on this journey; to Susan, for your keen eye; to Emily for the thought and care you put into the cover; to Danielle for your creative oversight; and to Erica for keeping this whole process on track!
Thank you to my family. The writing of this book, in particular, was colored by the loss of my son Alex, who unexpectedly passed away shortly after birth, sixteen years ago. I miss him every day. I never got to know him—I only know who I imagine him to be. He’s constantly in my heart, and I feel him sitting there, with me, a part of my body and my soul forever. This grief runs deep, and my heart aches for others who have lost loved ones. May their memory be a blessing.
Thank you to my sweet children—my love for you made my personal health decision clear. Thank you for your love and compassion. You are all such quality human beings. I’m grateful to be a part of your lives. Thank you to my husband. Your yin to my yang gives us balance. Thank you for supporting me through this process.
Thank you to the community of friends and family who have provided emotional and instrumental support over the years (Holly, Jill, Tina, Janet, Joy, Valerie, Maria, Kristi, Hani, Heidi, Michelle, Dorothy, Tara, Jodie, Cindy, Tamera, Dream, Jennifer, Jodie, Lyndall, Stephanie, Sandi, Jamie, Jean, Darlene, Jen, Omario, Sanjay, Jessica, JA, Lois, Marjie, Beth, Steve, Chuck, Jill, Pat, Ralph, Teresa, and Pat.) Thank you to my niece Sophia, who moved in for a week (and to her parents Lois and Brian, who let her.) Thank you to my mom, Nancy, and my mother-in-law Peggy, who both came to stay, alternating shifts. Thank you to my father, Larry, and my father-in-law, Bob. Thank you to my amazing babysitters—Megan, Melanie, Marcia, Kathleen, Maggie, Marissa and Lydia. It takes a village!
Thank you to those who are raising awareness about early signs and prevention. To all of us who’ve watched loved ones battle cancer, and to those of us who’ve battled it ourselves or are still in the midst of it—hold your loved ones close. Make the most of every moment.
About the Author
Sarah Lynn Scheerger is a clinical social worker who works with “at-promise” youth, helping them figure out who they are and who they want to be. She started writing as a convenient excuse to avoid laundry, and admittedly has gotten a little carried away. She writes picture books as well as middle-grade and young adult novels. She lives in Southern California with her husband and children. To learn more, check out her website at www.sarahlynnbooks.com.