Fighter, soldier, survivor, patient, all words we use to describe our friends and family members navigating the world of cancer.
When I heard about my friend who’s been undergoing radiation treatment for a tumor around his esophagus, I thought of how BRAVE he is to face his cancer, knowing what the effects of the radiation could mean.
He was holding-up pretty well. Radiation brings with it, fatigue, skin rashes, loss of appetite, but it can also bring more serious side effects and he’s facing one of those right now. It’s a set-back, a big set-back, but his wife describes him as “weak in body at the moment, but strong in spirit and we hope that’s going to carry us far.”
BRAVE….both of them so BRAVE.
Cancer builds brave souls.
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March 16, 2015 @ 11:13 am
I wish them well. The fight is difficult but often worth it. Let me tell you about a friend.
We met in a melanoma support group many years ago and lost touch with each other. Sometime later we reconnected at our church support group. She was in a bad way…the melanoma had metastasized to her brain. After some surgery and radiation, she was stable. More scans revealed more mets to intestines..more surgery, chemo….the chemo didn’t work so more mets. A different type of chemo in a clinical trial…her sister drove her to South Carolina to participate and receive the infusions. First signs of a response. Today she is stable…not NED but stable. Scans coming up. I had sent her an email some time ago and did not hear from her. So I imagined the worst. Emailed her sister. She sent me the good news that she is stable not NED and doing well.
She is one of my heroes. The black cloud seemed to follow her and the news was mostly bad but she refused to give up or quit. What a spirit!! Based upon her prognosis, the docs were going through the motions with this, that or the other because she would not quit. To me she represents HOPE. That’s often missing in the cancerworld. But if someone is in the fight, it is always good to know someone who defied the odds. Cathy is one who would share her story with them…not false HOPE but HOPE that is real if you are willing to endure. No guarantees come with HOPE but often HOPE is enough to get you through the day. Today is really the only day that matters.
March 14, 2015 @ 5:07 pm
Even though I have been away, it is always good to come home and read all the posts. Trying to live a normal life when things are looking grim does indeed require bravery. In all things cancer, this is one place where everyone understands, cheers, weeps, and prays for one another. Thank goodness.
March 16, 2015 @ 6:00 pm
Welcome HOME Nan
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