Cancer Girlies

We’re just Cancer Girlies

Forever the youngest in the waiting room

Give the infusion staff hugs and kisses

Calling my primary an angel, because he is

 

I can take you on a ride through the tube

We might need some contrast

Three, two, one, small pinch!

 

Crying in the parking lot

Crying in the bathroom mirror 

It’s gonna be okay, babe

 

Believe the receptionist when she tells you that your hair looks good

Will you keep it? Will you lose it? 

“NO” she says, “YOU’RE GONNA GET YOUR ROOTS DONE!”

Then another girl in the waiting room looks up, and says,

“Yes girl, you’re gonna get those roots done!”

 

Cancer Girlies

DM you during the hospital stay because they know 

You hit that call button twenty minutes ago

And you wanna go the fuck home

 

Let the nurse hold your purse when you’re on the scale

Because every ounce helps after the steroids

And when she cuffs your arm, she’ll apologetically tell you that it’s a draw day

And curse with you as you try not to imagine 

That you’re about to be drained like a human Capri Sun

Look away from the straw drawing out blood like juice 

 

But then I see another cancer girlie getting HER labs too

And she’s absolutely fucking beautiful

Her jade turban gives away to her active chemo status, but whoa

She’s wearing a jumpsuit with arms heavy with dainty gold bangles

“You look INCREDIBLE” I profess in her direction, and she’s blushing immediately

Because cancer girlies keep it cute, even if we’re dying 

 

And after I hug each infusion staff member

My oncologist comes in to give me the tea

It’s hot off the MyChart

And she printed me a copy

The disease is present, but stable

Thats just Stage 4 baby

She’ll see me in two weeks

I tell her I love her before she goes to the back 

The ultimate cancer girlie

 

And I hate that we’re in this club

But at least we’re here together

Playing our tiny violins on this sinking pink ribbon ship

You unremarkable beauty, you