Just Give It Time, They Said

Just Give It Time, They Said

🌼 Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

⚡ Energy: Mildly annoyed but medically released

💝 Status: Six-week radiation follow-up complete

🥰 Outlook: One more doctor checked off the active roster

Today I had my six-week follow-up appointment with my radiation oncologist.

Six weeks since radiation.

Six weeks since the daily table routine.

Six weeks since the chest wall cooking project.

Six weeks since the skin reaction, the welts, the rash, the peeling, the burn, and the whole What Fresh Hell Is This, Radiation Edition situation.

He asked about all of it.

The radiation reaction.

The welts.

The rash.

The allergic reaction to the cream.

The peeling.

Whether my skin still looked sunburned.

Whether it had turned into a tan.

And I was actually happy to report that my skin looks great.

The problems seem to have disappeared.

The peeling has stopped.

No sunburn.

No tan.

No leftover crispy rotisserie chicken situation.

Just skin.

Actual normal-looking skin.

We love that for me.

I do still have some tightness across my left boob area, but he said that is to be expected and should go away with time.

There it is.

The magic phrase.

Just give it time.

Doesn’t that seem to be the answer for everything in Cancerland?

Your skin is tight?

Just give it time.

Your energy is gone?

Just give it time.

Your nerves are angry?

Just give it time.

Your body feels like it was taken apart and put back together by a committee that was running late?

Just give it time.

Your brain is foggy?

Just give it time.

Your life has been paused, flipped upside down, and shaken like a snow globe?

Just give it time.

Cool.

Love that.

But exactly how much time are we talking about?

Can we get a number?

A range?

A coupon?

A tracking number?

Because from the day the word cancer entered my life, September 4, 2025, until now, it has been about nine and a half months.

Nine and a half months.

And I am still hearing, just give it time.

I know they are not wrong.

I know healing does take time.

I know radiation keeps working after treatment ends.

I know skin, tissue, nerves, muscles, energy, and emotions do not all recover on my preferred schedule.

I know my body has been through a lot.

I know all of that.

But I am getting sick of that answer.

There.

I said it.

“Just give it time” is starting to sound like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Old school.

Tired.

Overused.

Retired.

We need new material.

Maybe something like:

“Your body is still rebuilding after the medical demolition crew left.”

Or:

“Your tissues are currently in a slow-motion healing tantrum.”

Or:

“Cancer recovery is rude and unfortunately not available for expedited shipping.”

Honestly, I would respect that more.

Because “just give it time” makes it sound so simple.

As if time is this magical little assistant that shows up with a clipboard and fixes everything while I wait patiently.

Meanwhile, I am over here trying to rebuild stamina, deal with neuropathy, manage lymphedema, wear compression gear, restart Methotrexate, start hormone blockers, keep my stomach calm, grow hair, protect my immune system, and figure out what version of Tina lives in this body now.

So yes, I will give it time.

Apparently.

Because nobody has offered me a better option.

But I am going to complain about it a little.

That feels fair.

Anyway, the big news is that I have officially been released from radiation oncology.

Yes!

One more doctor moved off the regular appointment rotation.

One more piece of active treatment follow-up checked off the list.

From here, I am back under the care of my oncologist and my plastic surgeon.

And truth be told?

I am not mad about that.

They both have a much better bedside manner.

And an actual sense of humor.

Which, at this point, should be listed as a required medical credential for anyone treating me.

Medical degree?

Great.

Board certified?

Lovely.

Can you handle sarcasm, dark humor, and a patient who may refer to her expander as a flapjack?

Very important.

So today was a good appointment.

My skin passed inspection.

Radiation oncology released me.

My left side is still tight, but apparently, we are giving it time.

Again.

Fine.

I will give it time.

But I am doing it with an attitude.

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💗 Tina –
One Badass Day at a Time