Mom's Cancer Lessons Continue

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.

Comments

Worry wart?

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...

Winken, Blinken and Nodding Off.

Oh cancer, only because of you can I recapture my youth. My hair is at the same growth stage it was 61 years ago, my tumor’s position makes wearing a diaper a necessity at times and best of all – I have not taken so many naps since toddlerhood! Are you tired during your cancer battle? I am. Not that I’m in a constant state of exhaustion, but my eyelids frequently droop as yawns escape my mouth. Then it becomes far from a pretty sight. I blame the change in meds. By my fourth chemo session, I required stronger pain medications than the occasional ibuprofen. My oncology gynecologist prescribed oxycodone to be given while I received my infusion cocktail. Coupled with Benadryl, the antihistamine used to avoid nausea, within minutes I was out. Upon awakening and noting the dampness of my front and grogginess I asked the nurse if I had slept for long. ‘Oh honey, you were sound asleep for at least an hour,’ she said as a small smile crossed her face...

Cancer is only part of my journey

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