Cancer is everywhere
Two bloggers that I follow fairly regularly because I like their writing (Xeni Jardin and Susannah Breslin) were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I read about both today.
Once you’ve had cancer, or you know someone close to you whose had cancer, you notice it more. You notice news items about potential cancer treatments, about people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer, about people who die of cancer. You notice people wearing wigs or looking frail and wonder if they have cancer. You see a new freckle or bump and wonder if it’s cancer. Sometimes it feels like cancer is everywhere… and, unfortunately, it is everywhere. 1 in 4 people will get cancer in their lifetimes. In the US, about 1500 people die every day of cancer, and every day, 3400 people are diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer really sucks. It is a horrible disease, with horrible treatments, and affects the lives of people and their families and friends dramatically. It’s hard to imagine 3400 people around the country getting devastating news about their health every single day. It’s sad to think about.
And yet, and I am profoundly inspired by these people. People like you and me who get terrible news and most cry and then they take a deep breath and head forward into the unknown, the confusion, ahead with courage.
Xeni and Susannah write eloquently about the unknown and confusion they are experiencing right now. My heart goes out to them. And I am inspired by them. I went through that journey, I came out the other side, I am grateful to be alive, I am changed, and I am courageous too.
