Contrast. In a medical setting it’s a chemical used durring MRIs to help highlight certain areas so the neuro-oncologist can see differences in the tissues. Differences help highlight what may be good and may be bad. Contrast, a common setting on a tv and a thing in life, helps people see by delineating differences.
I have had a cold, or the flu, or something, for almost a month. It wasn’t good. I didn’t eat solid food for almost a week. I lost a good amount of weight on my already svelte frame. My balance and strength also went backwards. And I still cough and gag a little. My appetite hasn’t returned to even pre-cold levels. In fact, this morning I even dry heaved a little - luckily I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet so there were no substances to eject.
However, that “sick,” beyond my normal “sick,” “contrasts” my usual - my everyday. Contrasting cold-sick with just regular cancer sick helps me see and appreciate regular cancer sick. Bad looks good when contrasting it with even worse and “bad” helps highlight “better” by contrasting. Without contrast the differences may go unnoticed.
I have my next MRI, Thursday. February 20. They usually use a different contrast agent with me because of an allergy, even though it’s more work. It’s still worth it, for me, because it helps the neuro-oncologist see better. That’s better for me.