The peripheral edges of my life have been touched by those who have had cancer since high school when a girl friend was diagnosed and treated for lymphoma. We lost touch after high school.
Through friends I found out that she passed away in her early 40's from another cancer attack. Knowing her in high school I am confident she met death with strength and a strong faith.
In high school she was an amazing person with a positive outlook and a never ending optimism. She was also a pretty good two stepper at the local country honky tonk.
In recent years cancer has invaded friends and family. My mother in law and father in law have successfully battled breast and prostate cancers respectively (if you needed clarification) because they were properly prescreened.
I left a company in 2005 because my boss decided to sell his interest in a company because of his battle with prostate cancer and a desire to spend more time with his family. I did not begrudge him his right to sell and get out of the daily grind of work, but I was unable to work for the new ownership and tendered my resignation.
While living in Alabama I was introduced to a phrase that people used when delivering the news of cancer as a death sentence. They would simply say that the person to which they were referring has "got the cancer.
" It didn't matter which one, they just know that the many times rural, uninsured, possibly uneducated person that had been diagnosed with a late stage type of aggressor had "got the cancer" and the outlook was grim. Rich people with insurance beat cancer, the poor fight and lose.
Very recently a close friend was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. This cancer could have been caught early and prevented costly and lengthy treatment, but we are all too busy to go to the doctor for screening.
His battle with this cancer has been inspirational. He is an extremely strong and optimistic person who just views this as a bump in the road that he will overcome with attitude and the medical aptitude of his doctors.
I speak with him daily concerning his treatment and often wonder if I would have the strength and focus to deal with such a diagnosis and treatment. I have a feeling I would not.
The more I speak with friends and family concerning cancers found in our society the more I hear stories of triumphant, miraculous, and amazing human spirit. Some people win a long and lengthy battle and some fight hard only to lose to one of the many cancers that invade and kill.
Many times the cancers could have been caught if men and women would listen the advice of friends and doctors and get screened at the appropriate age.
Most prescreening procedures are covered by medical insurance, not necessarily because the insurance companies care about you, but it becomes very costly for them if an insured person must be treated for a late stage cancer and cuts deep into executive bonuses. Just 96 pills taken by my friend with colon cancer cost $28,000 dollars. That is $291.67 per pill. He counted the pills and found there were only 95 !
Cancer brings out amazing stories concerning the strength of people. The struggles have inspired national programs, books, and movies and have allowed all of us to share and cry.
Many people have no choice for whatever reason their bodies allow for the invasion of cancers and cannot seem to fight off attack. However, many of us have the ability to be screened early to prevent the heartbreak and we do not need to have our strength tested.
I fear that I would fall short and not have the same stamina and resolute faith of my friends and family who have bravely battled. So whether it is breast, prostate, colon, skin, or any area seen as attack by cancers talk to your doctor about screening at the appropriate age and time. Sometimes it is a good idea to be screened early if a family member has experienced and early onset of a cancer.
This type of article has been written and rewritten (much better than I have conveyed my thoughts) but many will still wait and thereby become an inspiration to others. Don't be and inspiration, talk to your doctor about cancer screening.
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