Cancer Chronicles Ep 13: How I Conquered My Fear of Chemotherapy

Confessions of an Aging Ingenue

Have you ever had to make a choice that didn’t feel right, but you knew you had to do it anyway?

Welcome back to Confessions of an Aging Ingénue! I’m your host, Jenni Tooley, and today, I’m discussing the struggles of making tough decisions during cancer treatment (and life in general!). It’s not always about what feels good—it’s about what’s necessary.

So, here’s the deal—yesterday was a big day for me: I had my first IV drip chemo infusion. And let me tell you, the emotional rollercoaster leading up to it was wild. I didn’t want to go, I was scared, and I was torn between wanting to do everything I could to fight this cancer and just wanting to avoid the whole thing. I’m sure many of you can relate to those moments when you’re forced to push through fear because you know it’s necessary.

In this episode, I’m sharing my journey from the prep work at the doctor’s office, my internal battle about the infusion, and how it all came down to just being willing to take the next step—even when it felt uncomfortable. You’ll hear about how I navigated my emotions and why this moment marked an important step in my healing process.

If you’re facing difficult decisions or moments of doubt, this episode is here to remind you that it’s okay to feel conflicted. I hope that this encourages you to find the courage to keep moving forward. Every step counts, and sometimes just being willing to show up is the most important thing you can do.

As always, thank you for your continued support. If you want to be part of this journey with me, visit jennitooley.com to get involved. Don’t forget to check out the Jenni Tooley Presents community on Substack to support the podcast and stay updated on new content.

Credits:Special thanks to LEV in the Wild for the beautiful song "XYZ," courtesy of Holly Ragland. You can enjoy more of LEV's music at levinthewild.bandcamp.com.

A big shoutout to Bruce Richardson, our incredible sound designer, for crafting the intro and outro bumpers that set the tone for our episodes.

And a heartfelt thank you to Prettie Philippa, our amazing podcast manager, for keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Dalton James of Mr. James Workshop for providing us with amazing graphic design and branding elements.

And Peggy, Daniel, Nancy, Pam, Carol, Patricia, Linda, Jenny, Tess, and Tom for becoming paid subscribers to the Substack. You’ve given us the ability to produce and publish 8 episodes so far!

Thank you for tuning in, and I’ll catch you in the next episode!

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered or used as medical or legal advice.

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