June 5th was National Cancer Survivor Day. I’m happy to be part of that contingent, and when I started to think of the cancer survivors in my circle I was taken aback by the size of the list. Some are local, others in far off cities. But the numbers of local folks made me shake my head.
Wouldn’t a cure with no side effects be grand?
My first oncologist called this area a cancer hot spot. He believed it enough to move his young family to Bend, Oregon. I miss him, but I understand his concern. The historic New Bedford mills that produced textiles eventually moved south and were taken over by industries that dumped PCBs into the Acushnet River. The river is still being cleaned up today. Other industrial waste was dumped at a land site in New Bedford, and in the era of not knowing any better they built the high school and skating rink (where my dad worked and I spent many formative years) right next door. When my oncologist mentioned he’d never seen so many cases of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (the kind I have) in young people (to him that’s anyone under 60) I thought about all the nasty smells the river gave off when I was a kid and all my time at the skating rink and wondered, is that what did it?
One of my cancer survivor friends recently said it was the luck of the draw. That’s true, of course, as some people’s immune systems are better able to fight than others. Genes can be passed down. But being exposed to toxins certainly doesn’t help. Most of us will never know.
Those of us of a certain age will remember our parents whispering about the “C” word in hushed tones. It was a death sentence. Not any more. The strides that have been made in treatments and, in some cancers, actual cures have been tremendous. The tests, the drugs, the more targeted and less harsh chemotherapies are all steps in the right direction. Wouldn’t a cure with no side effects be grand? So here’s to the researchers, the doctors, and the patients in the clinical trials that give us those cures and those new drugs. And here’s a shout out to my fellow survivors – Anita, Aunt Dee, Andrea, Bob, Liz, Cheryl, Joan and Jeanne, and to Simone who has just finished treatment and is on her way to joining the group. And here’s to our sisters and brothers who fought the good fight but are gone too young – Cousin Sue and Sue from Georgia, Melissa’s dad Ken, George R., Nicky P., and David G. You are remembered.
A day will come when cancer is a chronic illness. I hope it’s in our lifetime. In the meantime I think I speak for the entire group of us when I say we aren’t just surviving, we’re thriving.
Hug a survivor, pray for those who didn’t, and most of all, be well.
Thank you for remembering our David.
You and Bob are both members of the
Survivors group. I miss you, hugs
I think of you every day. I’m going to have a bracelet made with the initials WWBS-What Would Barbara Say?
Love you and miss you, too.
D.
So glad that you beat it and are continuing to beat it. Consider yourself hugged.
Thanks, Kate. And hug Ron for me!
D.
Too many in my family, too, Deb, and so many others, have not survived, but those who have are indeed fortunate. Despite the attempts here and across the globe to rid the earth and the air of still too many contaminates, the problems remain, with not sufficient political will to make the changes that are critical. Medicine has found ways–some miraculous–to create medications, surgeries, etc. to make the difference for thousands. But, sadly, it is still not enough.
Here’s a late hug for you Debbie! I have just passed my 5 year mark and can now consider myself one of the survivors. God is good! Stay well cousin.
Deb – I appreciate your strong words in this post. I am a survivor too – four years and counting. Hugs to you.