I’d like this to go on record: I HATE cancer. (I refuse to dignify it with a capital letter.)
I’ve recently been inspired by two young men: Shane Crawford and Samuel Johnson. Shane, a retired footballer, recently rode his bicycle from Melbourne to Perth – the same distance as the tour de France and in less time – to raise funds for breast cancer research. He raised over $1 million. What a champ! Samuel Johnson, an actor, is riding his mono-cycle (the strain on his back must be killing him!) all around Australia, also to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. His sister has it and is not going to get better. He’s called his venture: I love my sister. What a guy!
The more people I meet in the cancer world, the more inspired I am. The strength of the human spirit, the humbling generosity and kindness of the medical profession, the courage of those who can see the end approaching, is overwhelming.
I wish I could do something for the cause. I’m not able to ride a bike any distance worth doing (not even down our street), I can’t do marathon running, or jogging or even walking. I’m not famous. I have no media presence. I don’t have much money. Even my cancer is pretty wimpy. Okay, it’s not curable, but for the last two years it’s just sat in the same spot barely doing enough to earn it’s keep. (I know that’s a good thing but I sometimes feel a bit of a fake.)
So far this year I have had two friends diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and it looks like they might not see Christmas. Another friend has bowel cancer and is in the middle of treatment. Another has had his brain tumour reappear…again. Another was diagnosed with cancer in the gall-bladder and is halfway through chemo. Another has breast cancer and is also on chemo. And now I’ve heard of an ex-brother in law who has it in his pancreas, liver and kidneys. FLIPPING HECK! What’s going on? This blasted disease seems to be spreading like the flu virus.
Then again…the common denominator is me. Would it be too paranoid of me (or too egocentric) to wonder whether I’m like a cancerous Typhoid Mary? Am I polluting the people around me? (After all, it’s all about me.)
Thank the Lord for the boffins who are working on finding a cure. In my life time we have seen the death rate drop dramatically for many types of cancer, especially if diagnosed early. But it still takes a terrible toll on patients, their families and friends, even when the outcome is good.
Take care of yourselves out there, if only so I don’t have to worry about you. Meanwhile I’m thinking about what I can do to make a difference. Why don’t you give it some thought as well? Cheers.
Wendy, you underestimate the influence you have on people. I and others I know, see you in a different light to how you see you. Maybe it’s just as well, otherwise your head would be bigger than your cancer. Just keep being yourself, and keep writing, because you’re good at it. Keep a positive attitude because that rubs off on so many of us. That’s probably all you have to do. Go girl go!!
Luv ya!
The only common denominator to family & friends getting cancer is the disease itself! It profounds me the number of people I also know that have or have had the disease & no matter the seriousness of the situation each individual is in, there is no one person being a fake if the individual is able to continue to live without it worsening!
The fear the word cancer produces although the death rate has significantly declined is astronomical & the negativity surrounding the word cancer automatically puts it in to the category of when are you going to die NOT when are you going to be cured.
We just need to try to turn the negativity into the positivity of “let’s beat this life threatening sucker!”. Crafw & Johnson = Thank You… Jo Blow without the means to directly fund the cure, just being supportive of the cause, supportive of the people diagnosed & giving them positive thoughts is a job well done!
Well said, Thomas. In my 20 year journey with this thing, I’ve always said I’d treat it like any other disease: I’ll take my medicine and get better. I also say, I’m not dying of cancer, I’m living with cancer. It’s just sometimes it seems a little overwhelming. BUT I fully expect to see this sucker beaten, and soon. Thank you.
Thanks, Pamela. I’m a “what glass are you talking about” kind of person so it’s not hard to be positive. I’m not even that concerned for myself. (At least, not while the cancer’s being wimpy.) I appreciate your comments, but I’m still going to try to think of what more I can do. Even if it’s just a little thing, it’ll help. I feel good about using my birthday last year to raise money for the Look Good Feel Better program but it really knocked me out, so I won’t be having another party like that. I shall keep pondering…
Now you make me wonder what’s wrong with me. I’ve been following your blog for some time now, and all I can manage is a sinus infection.
And I sincerely hope it stays that way! (Except I hope the sinus infection clears up soon because those things can make you feel miserable.) 🙂
Wendy – I’m heavily involved with the Cancer Council now, through Relay for Life and I absolutely agree its the worst most horrible disease. Some of the stories I have heard through the meetings I attend are just heartbreaking. It is so random in who it chooses just like one of the reasons for our team is my friends’ son Finn, he was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma at only 6mo. And my friend Rachel who has Stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma at 26.
I’m very sure, actually I KNOW there would be ways in which you can help if you are up to it. For example, saying a few words at one of the fundraising events I organise 😉
I have spoken at a number of events -churches, women’s groups, biggest morning teas, support groups – about my journey with cancer and lymphoedema, a by-product of treatment. I don’t know why I didn’t register that as doing something! Thanks for reminding me. My sister has also reminded me of the different ways I’ve helped raise money for research, too. I think I was feeling rather overwhelmed the day I wrote this blog. If you are serious about me speaking at one of your events, let me know either through the contact email on this web page, or PM me on facebook, and I’ll see what I can do.