Cancer

I almost never blog about current events or news. Today I am sad for Elizabeth Edwards and her family. I am sad that her cancer has come back. I have personally been touched by cancer through my Mother who I lost to cancer two years ago this week. My Mom battled it and we thought she had won. Then her cancer came back and took her life in just a few months time.

Losing my Mom to cancer has taught me that life is precious. My Mom had signs when she first got her cancer. She had irregular menstrual bleeding after menopause. She had lower back pain. She went to her doctor and repeatedly had tests. By the time her doctor realized she had uterine cancer it had spread to a few lymph nodes. Mom went through a radical hysterectomy and radiation. She learned to pee with a catheter and never fully regained 100% bladder and bowel function. She was fine with that -- her view was "Hey! At least I'm still here!"

Mom's doctor described cancer as being like a dandelion in your lawn. It isn't such a big deal if you see the first dandelion and pluck it out (with the roots!) right away. If however, you don't see that dandelion soon enough -- that is when the real trouble starts. My Mom's real trouble waited for 3 years before it popped back up. When it popped back up it went to the brain, lungs, kidneys and bones. It was fast and furious. She suffered horribly. She had a 100% clean bill of health less than 6 months before the recurrence struck. She was living life to the fullest and was grateful.

I am grateful that we got the extra 3 years. I'm sorry that she suffered so much in the last 3 months. She was a pillar of strength even as the cancer ate away at her. She is my example. She was an intelligent woman who took good care of herself. She didn't ignore the signs -- she sought help and her doctor missed the signs. What did this teach me? To trust my instincts and to get a second opinion. I pray for Elizabeth Edwards and her family. I pray that she wins this fight. I am so sorry for all of them that this battle must continue.

"Treatable but not curable" was a death sentence for my Mom. Reading that phrase brought it all back. My Mom was an optimist and she accepted the "treatable not curable" with a optimist's attitude. She told my sister "I'll be dancing at your wedding." She died less than 10 weeks later -- six months before that wedding.

I have the cancer badge linking the American Cancer Society in the sidebar of this blog because this cause will never be far from my heart. Finding a cure would be a dream come true. If we cure one cancer we are closer to curing them all.

My thoughts for today -- if you have an issue, get it checked. If your doctor doesn't take it seriously, get another doctor. Life is too precious, cancer is too cruel -- we have to work for the cure and we have to take care of ourselves. Holy Mama does the check on the 17th each month and asks her readers to check in too... I'm fine if you don't check in (though comments are always a happy thrill to me on my blog). Please though -- do check yourself, do get second opinions. Life is SO worth it!!