Cancer Survivors
 

Is anyone out there a cancer survivor? Would anyone like to share an abridged version of their story to encourage someone who has just been diagnosed?

Thanks!! :)

I don't have personal experience with it but do want to offer my best wishes to you.

I am not a cancer survivor, but my grandmother is, twice over. Her diagnoses both occurred after she turned 70. She is now 81 and still going strong.

One of my best friends is also a survivor. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma while a graduate student at Columbia. He came down to DC to intern at the state department and got the first half of his chemo at Georgetown. He completed it back in NY and how he is cancer-free.

@ Shellfish and @Sensuret I-

Thanks :)

Yes, this! Sorry for the diagnosis. Sending best wishes your way, hon

Best wishes to you! :)

Three older (ages 50s-70s) colleagues and a 14 year old (teenager) friend of my family:

The teenager's family is trying to keep her life as normal as possible and making sure she isn't reduced to "so-and-so who has cancer" when people talk about her. They think it's important for her to keep the balance in terms of family and friends eventhough she's now being home schooled. The only thing that I don't like, and it seems like a form of retreatism from her condition, is that she text messages NONSTOP all day and everyday. She can be at a table full of people and she's quiet because she's texting instead of talking. Her family doesn't want to "discipline" or correct her that much until her condition improves.

I only know how one of my colleagues is handling it because he is one of my mentors. He's keeping a good spirit and an excellent sense of humor. He travels a lot and has learned to focus more on his family. He sometimes jokes about how his body is changing and "fighting him." His doctor considers his condition to be mild and that he should have a full recovery in the next year. His condition is about the same as his sibling's who was diagnosed with cancer about a week before he was. They are both in good spirits and laughing and loving life. The doctor said their cancers were caught earlier. Their mother's cancer was caught very late and she passed away many years ago.

I am not a cancer survivor, but I wanted to share something with you. The long-time pastor at my (unitarian) church has cancer, and he gave a sermon entitled "My Walk with Cancer" that I found deeply moving. I hope that it might be of some encouragement to you.

My very best thoughts are with you.