Chihuahuas and Great Danes

I worked with a patient
the other day;
she had been fighting cancer
"for several years now",
and had a new
medical concern
to address...
But NOT cancer.

A condition
requiring
a short surgery...
but NOT cancer.

And we discussed
having cancer,
and how some
books address
cancer
as
"A Dragon at the Backdoor",
or
"The Monster that Never Leaves".

This patient
considered
cancer;
a fierce Great Dane at her back.

I reminded her
in her exhaustion
and
disappointment
and
frustration,
that
this "current concern",
although
troublesome
was not
"A Great Dane" problem.

So following a long conversation
we determined that
non-cancer problems
are
Chihuahuas
in a Great Dane world.

Still nipping at her heels,
but she will not
feel the hot uncomfortable breath
over her shoulder.

And I told her
to shoo
those chihuahuas
out of her room
as soon as possible.



M