Thoughts on the Journey of a Cancer Patient
Received an email from a patient with what sounds like metastatic esophageal cancer. He wrote me after reading my caringbridge page. I am including an edited excerpt from my emailed reply, as a glimpse into my thoughts as a cancer patient. Thoughts that I have been trying to put to paper for some time now. Thoughts that hopefully can encourage other cancer patients that stumble on to this blog.'My personal thoughts are that if we (as cancer patients) are able to overcome the negativity of a cancer diagnosis, and continue to live (and for some even die) with grace and dignity, we will have already won the victory against cancer. Some journeys with cancer will be longer, and others short, but what matters most is how we walk that journey. That journey need not be filled with angst, bitterness, 'why me' questions, denial, rage, depression, or even in some cases an unrealistic pursuit of a cure/long life. We should not allow fear of the dreaded 'C' word to dictate how we live our lives. Rather, that journey, no matter how long or short, can be a path filled with courage, acceptance, love, hope, faith, peace, joy, fellowship, serenity, a sense of purpose, grace and dignity. We and our loved ones did not choose to be 'afflicted' with cancer, but we have a choice of how we deal and cope with this difficult diagnosis. I pray that God will grant us the courage to choose our paths wisely, the hope to live a meaningful/purposeful life, and the inner strength to live (and die) with dignity.
posted by antatosh @ 11:37 PM
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