Part Two: Beyond Superheroes: Finding My Yellow Brick Road Crew

In Part One, I shared how I let go of my first medical team — the ones who, at the time, didn’t feel quite right for me. If you playing catch up... part one can be read here. 

I called it “choosing my superheroes,” because back then, that’s exactly what I thought I needed: a team of experts who could swoop in, take charge, and save the day aka my life.

But as it turns out, I needed that first team to not be right for me — because that’s how I learned what I truly needed.

They helped me see that I didn’t want to just survive; I wanted to live my best life. I didn’t want to hand over control; I wanted to collaborate.

I am a partner in my own life — an empowered woman — and I’m the one who has to live with the ultimate outcomes of every decision (good, bad, or somewhere in between).

What I realised was that I never wanted rescuing — I need relationships. I needed people who would walk beside me, step by step, down my own yellow brick road of life.

Because when it comes to something like cancer, you don’t need sidekicks who freeze under pressure or disappear when things get tough. You need people who show up, listen, and care enough to walk with you through it all.

Just like in business, I realised I had to take a more intentional approach. Once the initial shock wore off a cancer diagnosis, I needed to find my right team, create my own 'job descriptions' for my team members, ask the right questions, and only “hire” those who were truly the right fit for me.

Because sometimes, the wrong team is exactly what helps you recognise what the right team looks like. 

That realisation changed everything.

It wasn’t that I’d gone looking for someone to rescue me — I pride myself on rescuing myself - it’s just that the medical system is generally built that way.

Patients are often expected to follow orders, stay quiet, and trust that the experts know best aka be 'saved'. But that was never me. I didn’t want to be a passive passenger; I wanted to be part of the journey.

Following the Yellow Brick Road

The whole cancer adventure reminded me a bit of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy didn’t make it to the Emerald City because someone needed to sweep in and rescue her or tell her specific path to follow. She found her way home because of the people who walked alongside her — each bringing something she needed along the way.

The Scarecrow brought wisdom,
the Tin Man brought heart,
the Lion brought courage,
and Dorothy? She brought the longing and intention to go home (or in my case, an intention to live my best life) — and discovered she’d had the power within her all along.

That’s exactly what it felt like building my new medical team. My version of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion came in the form of a surgeon, an oncologist, and a radiation oncologist — each with their own strengths, compassion, and courage to share.

And just like Dorothy had Toto trotting faithfully by her side, I had my husband — loving, loyal, and always there, no matter how stormy the path got. He didn’t need to fix anything; he just walked with me. And sometimes, that’s the greatest kind of strength there is. 💛🐾

My New Crew

🩺 The Surgeon:
He was calm, direct, and willing to explain things properly. When I asked if we could take a more collaborative approach, he didn’t flinch — he said yes. That one word alone gave me more confidence than any referral ever could.

💊 The Oncologist:
He became my strategist and long-game planner. For once, it wasn’t a one-way conversation. We worked together to define what I wanted out of treatment — how I wanted to live — and that shaped our approach. Even when I leaned toward a slightly unorthodox or cutting-edge path, he listened, questioned, and empowered me to make educated decisions.

⚡ The Radiation Oncologist:
Imagine someone with X-ray vision and a PhD in “How to Not Make You Feel Like a Number.” That was him. He listened, educated, brought innovation and tech to the table, and oh — casually wrote a book. Talk about superhero street cred. He loved using cutting-edge tools like AI and modern imaging to guide his approach, blending precision with genuine care. You could feel he was in this work for the right reasons.

💖 The Nurses & Admin Crew:
And then there were the nurses and admin staff — the heart of it all. They didn’t just process patients; they cared. They took time to explain what direction to go to in the maze that hospitals can be, offered a smile when I needed it, and made even the small moments feel supported.

For the first time in this cancer adventure, I felt what true personalised care looked like. I wasn’t just being treated; I was being walked with.

And that’s when it really clicked — choosing the right medical team was a lot like choosing the right business crew. Whether it’s your accountant, your marketer, or your coach, you want people who align with your values, listen before they prescribe, and collaborate to create the best path forward.

What I Learned Along the Way

Finding the right team felt a lot like running my business — trial and error, learning as I went, and trusting my gut when something didn’t feel right.

I realised you can tell a lot from how people show up — whether they listen, how they respond under pressure, and if they value your time. Those things might seem small, but they’re not. They’re the foundations of trust.

After every appointment, I’d pause and ask myself: How do I feel right now? Lighter or heavier? Heard or dismissed? Calm or confused?

That became my compass — and the same applies in business. Building the right team, in work and in life, comes down to communication, shared purpose, and trust.

Because it’s not about finding perfect people — it’s about finding the ones who walk beside you, who are honest, who stay through the messy middle, who care enough to keep showing up.

When all of that comes together — when the energy, trust, and communication align — that’s when you know you’ve found your crew.

With this new team beside me, I finally felt something I hadn’t felt with the first team — a real sense of trust and safety. The kind that comes when you know you’re surrounded by people who have your back, where you are not just another medical file.

Because in the end, it’s not about finding superheroes to save you.
It’s about finding the people who walk beside you — one yellow brick at a time. 🌟

And sometimes, that yellow brick road looks a little different than expected — guided not just by people, but by progress.

In my case, the use of AI and modern technology helped open a different path in my cancer adventure, one that offered new options, insights, and a renewed sense of possibility.

And that next step — where AI became one of the most unexpected heroes in my story — deserves a post all of its own. 😉