Tuesday, May 13, 2008

chemo: my new best friend

I found the following on a cancer discussion board I joined. Number 2 is especially fitting right now. (See yesterday's post.) So are 4 and 7. I've been having a little trouble thinking about long-term goals. I'll elaborate when I'm not holding fussy Ben in one arm.

The Ten Commandments for Cancer Survival

1. Thou shalt regard the word, "Cancer", as exactly that: a word. Nothing more, nothing less. For its original meaning has changed mightily over the years, as have such words as Smallpox, TB, and Polio, all once dreaded ailments, now non-existent as maladies. And thus, too, shalt go thy Cancer. The answer shall come to those who shall be present to hear it. Be present to hear it when it comes.

2. Thou shalt love thy chemotherapy, thy radiation, and thy other treatments even as thyself, for they are thy friends and champions. Although they may exact a toll for their endeavors, they are oft most generous in the favors they bestow.

3. Thou shalt participate fully in thy recovery. Thou shalt learn all the details of thy ailment, its diagnosis, its prognosis, its treatments, conventional and alternative. Thou shalt discuss them openly and candidly with thy oncologist and shalt question all thou do not comprehend. Then, thou shalt cooperate intelligently, and knowledgeably with thy doctor.

4. Thou shalt regard thy ailment as a temporary detour in thy life and shalt plan thy future as though this detour had not occurred. Thou shalt never, at no time, nohow, regard thy temporary ailment as permanent. Thou shalt set long-term goals for thyself. For thou will verily recover and your believing so will contribute mightily to thy recovery.

5. Thou shalt express thy feelings candidly and openly to thy loved ones for they, too, are stricken. Thou shalt comfort and reassure them for they, too, needest comforting and reassurance, even as thou doest.

6. Thou shalt be a comfort to thy fellow-cancerites, providing knowledge, encouragement, understanding and love. You shalt give them hope where there may be none, for only in hope lies their salvation. And by doing so, thou providest comfort for thyself, as well.

7. Thou shalt never relinquish hope, no matter how thou may feelest at that moment, for thou knowest, in the deep recesses of thy heart, that your discouragement is but fleeting and that a better day awaits thee, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after tomorrow.

8. Thou shalt not regard thy ailment as the sum total of thy life but as merely a part of it. Fill your life with other diversions, be they mundane, daring, altruistic, or merely amusing. To fill your life with your ailment is to surrender to it.

9. Thou shalt maintain, at all times and in all circumstances, thy sense of humor, for laughter lightens thy heart and hastens thy recovery. This is not an easy task, sometimes seemingly impossible, but it is a goal well worth the endeavor.

10. Thou shalt have enduring and unassailable faith, whether thy faith be in a Supreme Being, in Medical Science, in Thy Future, in Thyself, or in Whatever. Steadfastly sustain thy faith for it shall sustain thee.

by Paul H. Klein
© September 1993
ALl rights reserved.

10 comments:

Aunt Becky said...

What a lovely list.

*hugs*

Thinking of you.

Anonymous said...

Hey Emilie, I found your blog via our mutual pal Corn and even though I have nothing to say in the way or words of wisdom I wanted to let you know your family is in my thoughts at this time. Stay strong and lean on friends when you can't.
*hugs*

Anonymous said...

Love it. I just love it.

--Laura S.

Anonymous said...

Oh Em, I feel like my comment on your previous thread just sucked. The thread is titled "this just sucks," and well, my comment under "this just sucks" really sucked. It wasn't the least bit rude or anything; it just sucked! I think it's comment # 23.

How are you doing and feeling, what with chemo having started and all? You know "cancer" means "crab." I want to call you but am unsure when. I may try tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

- Susanne

Emilie said...

Oh no, Susanne, that was actually really good advice! Thanks. :)

V's Momma said...

I love that list - definitely take heed. You're amazing and incredibly strong, Emilie.
Know that you are always in my thoughts.
love,
amy

Marketing Mama said...

Em, this is a good list. I think about you often and hope you are doing okay. This is really yucky, sucky stuff and I hope this part doesn't last too long. you are a very strong woman, wife and mother and I admire you very much.

Anonymous said...

Those are wonderful comandments to help you through this.

I do have to say, making inappropriate jokes helped me through. Your doctors and nurses will be there to help you laugh and hug you when you cry, and so will your friends and family.

I have faith in you.

maresi said...

I'm thinking about you all the time and hoping you're coping.

Monkeymama said...

Wow, that is great. I really like, in number 7, that if you can't quite believe that tomorrow will be better than hold out hope for the day after.