“Nothing quite as sure as change..”
I probably date myself by mentioning the ‘Mamas and the Papas’ but when it came to lyrics, they had a grasp on life and its emotions like few of their era. I have one of their albums (there I go again; who uses that phrase anymore?) that I listen to as I walk and the song “Look Through My Window” has a line in it that made me think about a few friends who are on the “healing side of cancer” at the moment.
“Nothing quite as sure as change..”
In all phases of cancer world, there’s nothing truer.
These friends got through the treatment. They got through the worst of what happens during the treatment. Their bodies responded and they are N-E-D. They’ve earned a rest. But now comes more changes that require more ‘little fixes’ from the cancer.
One had reconstructive surgery from breast cancer. It didn’t turn out too well and she’s now got a date with a surgeon for a reconstruction on the reconstruction.
Another told me she figured if she could get through all the chemo and all the radiation and “get-on with living” she’d consider this war a victory over evil. Well, she’s done it BUT now she’s living with neuropathy so severe her doctors are looking to find a way to aleviate the pain from this nerve damage.
So many lives out there changed….so many lives out there thinking they got through the worst of it..what else could there be?
“Nothing quite as sure as change…”
January 20, 2013 @ 6:00 am
And color me misunderstood. Despite the hetead debate.Let’s recall where it started. I responded to the color meme with a status update of my own, Supports FB activism but wonders if posting your bra color is the latest trend in supporting democracy in Iran. Looks likely to be as effective. True, my favorite rant was present but there was no indignation. This appears to be a very easy way, however, to draw your ire. Really easy and fun!In our discussion I suggested that neither green avatars or bra colors were likely to have a positive or negative effect. You’ve advocated a positive effect with little tolerance for a discussion of possible negative effects. I have complete confidence that the work of cancer researchers and democratic reformers marches on with little notice of the memes on Twitter or Facebook. That’s precisely the point that’s missing in your repackaging of our great debate. Is the objective mere participation or awareness? The sheer numbers of people participating only proves participation no understanding or awareness necessary. My feed continues to include posts from women and men asking what the deal is. Awareness requires a message. A task. A take away. This was simply an exercise in participation. And here’s the thing with you tech folks (and, yes I’m now presenting myself as the sole representative of the real world), you get excited about a meme and declare it amazing and the numbers participating overwhelming. The Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project tries to keep their finger on the actual numbers associated with our online activities. Just a few days ago, they released their report that 74% of adults report using the Internet. Wealth, education and race all influence how likely you are to be online. This, of course, isn’t the same as using social media. An October report indicated 19% of Internet users reported sharing an update via Twitter or Facebook or a similar service. You’re absolutely correct, a good majority of the people using these services are likely to be aligned with a cause. They are also likely, because of those demographic characteristics mentioned previously, to have been aware of breast cancer, to conduct self-exams, and to schedule regular mammograms (if that’s appropriate). We can celebrate our good nature and this new frontier in the self-esteem movement or we can raise the bar just a bit. This good-natured minority using social media has to imagine it’s necessary to break outside their posh and groovy bubble to demonstrate the real power of these tools. Come on, Thompson. We’ve had this discussion when it comes to politics and you agree with me.And to that, let’s remember your original position was that this was all a bit of silly fun. To which I responded, hollow gestures AT LEAST threaten to undermine substantive action. You really are blind to those moderate qualifiers aren’t you? Context matters as does the true grit of these survivors’ stories. My advocacy position is simply that change is hard work. The downward trend in civic participation has been well documented over the past thirty years. We need these new tools of social media to reverse that trend but silly memes aren’t anything but a demonstration amongst an already in-crowd. We’ll have to get together to talk about how political candidates have realized this potential. The problem is that most campaigns are constrained by a harsh reality that tech analysts get to brush aside this is a very shallow pool. The world isn’t here yet. You, Ms. Thompson, and your cronies still have work to do. In the meantime, I will continue to recruit women to show their support for democracy in Iran by posting their bra color.
January 18, 2013 @ 7:21 am
Breast cancer is deifnitely not a one-size-fits-all disease, nor is the breast cancer therapy plan that accompanies it. Patients should be treated as individuals and have their treatments planned tailored as such. agendia*com
January 8, 2013 @ 5:08 pm
As we prepared to leave the house for a recent colonoscopy, my husband told me that if the report was not good, he would not go through the treatment again. Rather than protest, I told him I would respect his wishes, but to please wait until we got the results before making a final decision. Luckily, no decision had to be made. I just hope I can always mean what I said.
January 17, 2013 @ 11:06 am
If it is not pre-existing (You will get tested for nerlay everything) they will pay for any treatment you need. If you lie on any medical forms, they are going to discharge you for lying and enlisting under false pretenses. Just be honest and while it is good for you to think about your future, I am going to recommend a quote to you .carpe diem. Sieze the day, don’t focus as much on the what-if’s in life. I wish you and your mom the best.
January 7, 2013 @ 7:36 pm
I think of this often when I think of the damage to Jim’s lungs from radiation. Yes it bought him some time but it was a price to pay tethered to oxygen and not being able to walk 20 feet or get dressed without struggling for air. Would he have had the same amount of time without the radiation…there’s no way to know. What I do know is I wouldn’t trade the time for anything but I also know how it broke my heart to hear him struggle to breathe. Cancer offers so few good choices.
January 7, 2013 @ 7:26 pm
Many of us were so focused on surviving cancer, we’d tolerate most any type of treatment and the accompanying side effects, some of them permanent. But we didn’t know at the time so we chose the treatments offered. Today we are alive, thankfully but we live with the permanent side effects which serve as constant reminders that our cancers are really not that far away. Things have certainly changed for us and mostly for the better.
Reflecting upon what has transpired over these last 11 years and even knowing what I know today, my choices would still be the same. Cancer dictated what choices were available, not doing anything was not a choice for me then or now. Others have elected to receive no treatment and I respect that choice. One day I may also elect to do nothing and to go quietly and peacefully into that beautiful sunset. Heaven is not second choice but the first choice for believers.
January 20, 2013 @ 6:43 am
– Breast cancer is one of the most fritngenihg conditions that a woman can find herself facing. It’s normal to feel scared and a little lost after hearing a diagnosis that carries so much weight, so many possible outcomes. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 13.4 percent of women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in their lives.Visit the website for any information and help for oncology and its related issues. Here is the link November 20, 2008 7:51 am