Battling with Cancer

27th October, 2011 - Posted by L. John Mason -

Every one of us has our demons and we each do battle with these challenges in our own way. Some demons are more damaging physically, emotionally, and spiritually but all can be difficult and yet offer an opportunity for growth. When people are confronted by a serious health challenge or siginificant “test in life,” we will each respond in our own unique way to this challenge. Sometimes we get angry. Sometimes we get scared. Sometimes we prepare to fight and sometimes we prepare to run away. Sometimes we just give up… Since we have all been tested, we can consider, with empathy, the struggle of another person who is being “tested.”

My wife has been battling Ovarian Cancer since 2004. Her original diagnosis indicated that she would not survive beyond 5 years, at most. She did not see herself as a “cancer patient” nor did she want anyone to treat her as a sick person. She has maintained her self-reliance as much as she possibly can. She hates her cancer for robbing her of her health and her future adventures in life. She does not openly share her situation with strangers, or friends, or even family because she does not want to dwell on the negative impact of the disease or on the emotional responses from the people she interacts. She has suffered through horrendous procedures and indignities, and does not want people to know what she has experienced. She is a hero and she deserves a much better fate.

In the first few years she wrote articles to assist other people who are dealing with Ovarian Cancer. She wanted her experiences to be a useful guide for others. She wanted to encourage people to fight for their lives and look for all options to fend off the disease. The past year has been especially difficult and the available options are being whittled away. The emotional reserves are gradually evaporating and day to day existence is getting more challenging. We have begun looking at end of life options. My wife is a ”graceful” woman entering a phase where the reality of the situation offers far less grace than she deserves. We are looking to learn “our lessons” and then move on to other more peaceful and beautiful experiences.

Pray and support people challenged by difficult transitions. We all experience these tests ourselves and we know other people who are involved in soul searching life changes. If you are going through one of these difficult transitions, I wish you the grace and the insight to make the best of your difficult lesson. I wish that you can reach within and find strength. I hope that you are surrounded by “healthy” supportive people who you can trust and who will offer you the positive support that you require, and deserve. I pray that you can find the resources to manage your physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. When it is time to “let go,” I hope that you find yourself in a peaceful and graceful state of mind. Celebrate life, even the difficult lessons that we endure.

Do not let the women in your life develop Ovarian Cancer… and, please take good care of yourself.