I binge-watched the show, “Dying For Sex,” which is based on the true story of a woman diagnosed with terminal cancer. It details her quest for sexual exploration while facing her health crises with her best friend. 

Now, this isn’t an endorsement for the show. I definitely had issues with a lot of it.   However, as a chronically ill woman who faced life and death situations,  I realized it had a lot of positive lessons for anyone whether you are a patient or not. 

1. Take someone you trust to medical appointments with you to be your advocate and support. 2. Have back up support because caregivers get worn down and need a break. 3. Make sure your doctor sees you which means talking to you not at you. 4. If you don’t understand what your doctor is saying ask them to explain. 5. You can choose your own treatment plan 6. Keep copies of your medical records. 7. Heal old wounds before it’s too late 8. Make sure loved ones know your final wishes 9. Enjoy every second of your life. It can change or be over at anytime. 10. Embrace your body’s changes by refusing to be ashamed of the scars which were crucial to your survival. Bonus lesson: Always let others know how you feel about them. 

So, even though I had feelings about what the main character chose to do with her limited time and I didn’t like how she treated her best friend or some of the other people with whom she interacted, I appreciate gift of sharing one’s story and the beacon it may be to others. They also shined a light on healthcare workers like the character Sonya, who go above and beyond for their patients (although at times it was clear this was another magical negro trope). 

#dyingforsex #health #spoonie #chronicillness #autoimmunedisease #patientadvocate #cancer #healthcareworkers