Cancer is only part of my journey

Worry,  nervousness, apprehension or  uneasiness - regardless of the word used the emotion surfaces in all cancer patients. It should as our bodies are assaulted through the disease itself, the treatments and/or those treatments' "side effects." However, if you are just centered on it and expect me to send you emojis depicting hugs and kisses - forget it. As is well-documented  worrying is not beneficial to your fight.  It lowers your immune system.   Don't need that, especially if you're on an immunotherapy regime. It negatively affects your short term memory. Hello, hasn't chemo screwed enough with your mind?  Premature  coronary artery disease heightens Cancer already offers chances to hurt your heart. Why better the odds? This is not like a horse race where the odds play in your favor. Instead, fi nd something constructive to do.  Garden, tap dance, take up the harmonica or just sit in yo...

"I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable...but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing." - Agatha Christie Boy,  Dame Agatha knew more than how to poison your neighbor, kill the cook and inspire one's little grey cells (said in my best Hercule Poirot voice.) Being alive is a grand thing. I'll admit it freely. I truly dislike whiners. You know the type. People who go on and on about their problems.  Once I knew a woman who had survived breast cancer back when suffers readily succumbed to it. As my beloved mother had been one of those, it was a particular touchy subject with me. Yet, despite a full recovery never did Mary express joy, much less gratitude, of her extended life  Within minutes of meeting a new person she would state her former cancer status. Folded newspaper clippings of breast cancer  statistics regularly pulled from her wallet served to embarrassed, bore or both those reader...

We all have moments of despair during our cancer battles. No worries as it is natural. Thinking of myself as a force of nature is comforting. Personal earthquakes will always occur. Thankfully, I have learned to rock and roll with them. So can you.

Never think that your cancer diminishes your ability to make change for the positive.

We all have this power. regardless of our individual circumstances. Stay strong.  🌻 🌻 🌻

My mother was loving to all. She taught her children well.  How to laugh, even when raising a mere smile seems impossible.  How to celebrate the smallest of victories as it is a positive step forward.  How to remain curious for learning never ceases. Her living with cancer is a lesson both my late brother and I benefited from although she would have hated having had us put through it. The occasional vent is fine, but a constant whine is not. Continue to do for others. Never give up hope. Focus on even the tiniest wonders of nature and respect it. Her valiant battle ended 26 years ago this year.  Luckily, her lessons continue thriving.

Why keeping positive is so important to battling the Beast. Last Friday I was scheduled to give blood as I have since April prior to my chemo and now immunotherapy sessions. Last Friday, New York was also recovering from a huge snowstorm the night before. But like an intrepid Arctic explorer, I layered my clothing and set forth. Once arriving at the infusion center, one of my nurse Countess Draculas (my loving nickname for them) looked confused and asked 'why are you here?' It turned out despite being in the middle of this round's sessions, I only need bloodletting once not twice. They were so apologetic over the situation. Once upon a time, I would have adopted a put upon attitude at the inconvenience. But I had had some juice, graham crackers and spoken with funny (haha) strangers. Since my 2nd war w/ the Beast started, I have come to understand the extreme power of not sweating the small stuff. Also never allowing the big stuff to throw me off c...

Laugh! Laugh until you snort in delight, turn red and have tears rolling down your face! Some might think I’ve lost my mind. After all cancer is serious matter, hardly an object of mirth. I beg to differ. Granted, laughter is not the first thing one thinks of when cancer invades your life. But it needs to be in the top ten activities for battling the Beast. Decades ago, I read about a writer/editor named Norman Cousins, He was one of the first to recognize and positively incorporate humor into his treatment. I remember thinking I would do that too, should a potentially devastating disease ever strike me. Research shows the advantages of laughter. They include: ·          Being a great cardiovascular workout. ·          Stimulates the nervous system and relieve some pain. ·          Reduces stress. ·     ...

Recently, I discovered my early German ancestors lived in a place once called "Wigmodia." Considering my current bald status perhaps I am being led by my roots (literally) to place a covering resembling hair atop my head. But a little history lesson first (no groans from the peanut gallery, please). Curiosity is a terrible thing to waste. Ancient Egyptian, typically men, often kept their cool with close shaven heads, However, the romantic ladies liked something to run their fingers. Coverings, created from animal fur and other natural sources, became the norm. Nothing says ‘I love you’ like slapping on plaited papyrus held in place with beeswax. Should the object of desire be wealthy, it was customary to place a dollop of animal fat on the outside of the wig. Imagine snuggling up to that on a hot night in Alexandria? Other cultures from the Assyrians to the Greeks and Romans found wigs appealing, as did Asians. Then the fad died out until the 16 th...