| The Gift
“Cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me.” A friend said that to me when I was first diagnosed with cancer. I was outraged! How could anyone tell me that cancer was a good thing? How could my friend experience cancer and say that it made her life better? I refused to accept her words. Her joyous assessment was out of sync with my beliefs and perceptions of cancer. Fear, Anger, Pain, Loss of control, and a feeling of impending death were the only things I could experience. To me, cancer was a death sentence. Shock, anger, denial, and fear are all a normal part of the grieving process we go through when facing a cancer diagnosis. This is expected. Cancer is scary and uncertain. However, after the initial shock, comes what can be described as a turning point for cancer patients. Something occurs deep within you that affirms your choice to either live or die. At this point, those who choose to live start on their healing journey. Those who choose to die begin to do so. There are no clear reasons why some people survive cancer and some don’t. Prayer, medicine, surgery, mental attitude, lifestyle, meditation and imagery, as well as experimental procedures have all been attributed to cancer healing and cure. These are tools we must learn about, make choices about, and use in our healing. No combination of treatments work for everyone. Cancer has opened my eyes to a whole now world and life. Everyday is special. I am off the treadmill I once called life. My priorities are clearer. Friendships are cherished. I no longer waste time. I do what I choose to do not what I should do. I no longer hold back feelings. I say what I want to. I have had the opportunity to mend broken relationships and to strengthen others. I am in active control of my life. I have realized that we all will die. No one is immortal. I have chosen to live until I die. You, too, have that choice. And that is The Gift. ~Marianne Bryant Potter You have choices. Become informed, involved, and in control of your health and recovery. That is your right. |
