What Cancer Has Given Me

I rarely write about myself. I don’t want to be one of those people who fill the internet with the boring minutia of their daily lives. Sometimes something happens that might be of interest.

Late last year I went to an orthopedist because of back pain. He said I would need to have both hips replaced and ordered an MRI. Something that shouldn’t be there showed up. The oncologist said I had a tumor the size of a volleyball. Further tests revealed it was an uncurable lymphoma and I was in Stage 4.

Fortunately, lymphoma is the most treatable of all Stage 4 cancers. I began chemotherapy. There were few side effects. Currently I am in remission and continue to have maintenance chemo.

Obviously, I wish this had never happened. However, there have been some positives. I’m strong enough to handle anything life throws at me. Helping cancer patients is now an important cause. I’m working on a book on dealing with cancer from a patient’s perspective. The outpouring of support from family and friends has been tremendous. I now understand how fragile life is and the importance of making each day count. I am more patient and get less upset over minor things.
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If a dark cloud comes your way, try to find the silver linings. They don’t make up for the cloud but they can have a positive impact on your life.
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