Cognitive Effects Study

On Tuesday I finished up my third and final session for the research study entitled, "Cognitive Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment: A Brain Imaging Study."

In preparation for this post I re-read the Informed Consent Statement that I signed and found an error in the section, "Benefits of Taking Part in the Study." It read....There is no benefit to you from participating in this study. I beg to differ.

So far, I've already thought of several personal benefits in my experience:

• THREE days out of the house in the company of adults.
• Free lunch (if you spend less than 6 dollars).
• An uninterrupted 30 minute nap in the MRI tunnel while listening to music of MY OWN choosing (not that I don't like Adventures in Odyssey or K-Love or Kid's Bible songs).
• Yummy Blueberry Muffins and Apple Juice after the blood draw.
• $150 for each visit. As I left Tuesday morning, I said to Sean..."I'm headed out to do my job for today."
• A feeling of doing something good for others.
• Checking off my exercise for the day.....those tunnels that get you from point A to point B to point C and back go on and on and on and on....
• Getting paid to exercise my brain for the day. For someone like me who likes Sudoku or Ken-Ken or cryptograms, Tuesday's cognitive testing, though challenging, was extremely fun. Let's see if I can still remember those words.......envelope, stapler, glue....lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, celery.....racket, baseball....what was that fourth group????? Ugh???
• Did I mention the $150/visit?

Thanks to Dr. M and Dory (and I suppose Dr. S...though I never met him) for your diligence in your research. Hopefully doctors will better understand the effects of chemotherapy on the brain.

P.S. Dory....It was Mrs. Brown, with a soccer ball, on route 30.......but ONLY after the 9 came after the 1.....which WAS NOT on the list!

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I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 (Paul writing to the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi).