Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Never Give A Cancer An Even Break

     We are all different. Even under that battered, wind torn umbrella called "Cancer", each of us prefixes it with a different organ. And even those cancers that share specific locales are played out in different stages.
     That being said, we have some things in common as well. We all have battle scars. We all remember the moment we found out. And we all, as long as there is life within us, are survivors. Each day of life, whether proclaimed cancer free, or in the midst of the battle, is another day we win, we survive. I think there are several ways we can optimize that survival, and these are a few I have found. Some may be helpful, some not, or may toss the whole list entirely. that is entirely up to you, and you won't hurt my feelings in the least. Even I don't always adhere to the list, so much as aspire!

How To Be A Cancer Survivor
1.) Be Strong - To paraphrase W C Fields, "Never give a cancer an even break"! Always know that you are stronger than this thing inside you, and nothing it may take can change that. And while it may change your life, don't let it define your life.
2.) Be Helpless, not Hopeless - There will be times when we all simply need a hand, and it is not weakness to accept it. When you do accept that help, it allows those who offer the ability to journey with us. Remember that when we divide the weakness, we multiply the strength.
3.) Be Understanding - There will be friends who will seem to drift and fade into old memories of "I wonder what happened to...", all because of cancer. Don't be upset by their departure, but pity their fear. Cancer reminds people of their own mortality. Even though Jim Morrison said "No one here gets out alive", nobody likes to be reminded of their departure ticket! Don't be worried by their going, there are others who will stay. To them, give love with all your heart.
4.) Be Multi-Purposed - Work, home, kids, church, school, doctors appointments, sports, meetings, cook, clean and "don't forget to take time for yourself"! At the End of the Day? Wash the cares out of your hair...rinse, repeat the next day!
5.) Be Self-Humored - Always be ready to laugh at your cancer. Laughter is the most fierce weapon in defeating any enemy, because to laugh at something we take away its control over us. As absurd as life is with cancer, humor is never far away! (As an example: Just during the writing of this post, I've been to the bathroom 4 times. Not sure if that's a statement about the quality of my writing or not!)
6.) Be Vocal - Don't be afraid to speak out or speak up for yourself. But don't speak just to add to the noise, speak to add your voice to the conversation. The more people are heard, the more the complexities of cancer (and life) can be understood.
7.) Be Faithful - As a Christian, my faith has been the strongest thing (along with my wife) to keep me going, even when the only thing I could do was look up and say "Why me?". But cancer is no respecter of any religion, or deference of religion. That is its greatest weakness. Hold on at the very least to the faith that there is something bigger than ourselves, something bigger than the cancer. Follow that light inside, and rest in knowing you are not alone, and cancer is not over all else in you.

So remember...Be Strong, Be Helpless, Be Understanding, Be Multi-Purposed, Be Self-Humored, Be Vocal, Be Faithful, and most of all, be Yourself. There is none better.