Thursday, March 7, 2019

Coping with the Tidal Wave of Cancer

Recovering from cancer and its aftermath is like grief; always changing, undulating and rippling like a tide.


PUBLISHED March 06, 2019

Jane has earned three advanced degrees and had several fulfilling careers as a librarian, rehabilitation counselor and college teacher. Presently she does freelance writing. Her articles include the subjects of hearing loss and deafness, service dogs and struggling with cancer. She has been a cancer survivor since 2010.

She has myelodysplastic syndrome, which is rare, and would love to communicate with others who have MDS.
Like many people, I was very naïve about how much cancer would change my life. I thought that one got cancer, was treated and afterwards was “cured” and moved on. Of course I knew there were others who passed away from this devastating disease, and have lost dear friends and family to this vicious disease. What I never realized was that once we are diagnosed with cancer, our lives are forever changed.
  
There are more treatments for cancer now than ever before, including immunotherapy, and new chemo medications are being used all the time. Radiation treatments have eradicated some cancers, along with more precise laser surgeries to target tumors. Oral chemo, IV chemo and shots are all on the increase. This is a positive step because many of us are living a lot longer and feel blessed.


No comments:

Post a Comment