I had an appointment with a couple this morning who had been at my seminar last week. We talked for three hours. It took me an hour into the conversation to learn that the woman had been diagnosed with brain cancer in 2002. They removed most (not all) of the tumor and she is now on medication, but she has survived for more than five years with this diagnosis. The cancer did not metasticize and she appears to be doing well. Once she got cancer, she went on disability right away and will be collecting disability for the rest of her life. As a disabled person receiving disability from Social Security, she is able to receive Medicare as well.
No sooner did this first prospect leave than my next appointment called to cancel. She was in severe pain. She explained that she is being treated for breast cancer and that the disease had metasticized. She is now suffering from Stage IV breast cancer. The pain, she says, comes and goes. When the pain comes it is debilitating. I asked her where she is being treated. Turns out she is getting chemo at the same place I am going -- except she goes every Monday.
Not a day goes by that I don't talk with someone who has cancer, is a cancer "survivor", or has a friend or relative with cancer. As long as I can remember we have talked about cancer, but I don't ever remember a time where it has hit this close to home with so much frequency. Maybe it is just the place where I live (the oldest county by average age in the United States) or maybe its just me. It feels like an epidemic. Everywhere I turn there is another cancer victim.
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4 comments:
There really is cancer EVERYWHERE. It seems that recently (or maybe I've just notcied more because you have cancer) people have been diagnosed with cancer left and right. My best friends step-mom, my friends sister, my other friends Dad, and my Dad. Those are just from since I have been in college!! Cancer seems to be a part of everyone's life now. At least we are not alone, and people are able to understand what we are going through. :) See you in exactly a week!!
It's true that there always seems to be another story from a listener after I reveal my brother has been diagnosed. I think it has always been there, but now it means something.
Have you watched Randy Pausch's lecture yet?? I really hope you have. He is amazing.
Hi dad, Just wanted to leave a note to let you know I have been reading. Keep the posts coming.
And you are right, cancer is every where. XOXO Paula
Cancer is actually everywhere...I work in a place where every time I turn around someone else has been diagnosed with cancer. Both my friends Sandy and Nick were diagnosed with cancer this past year in a half, Nick with colon and Sandy with Skin. At work, so many people, and young people have been diagnosed recently. You just can't seem to get away from it.
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