A two-time cancer survivor suggests what life after mid-life can be, even for cancer survivors.
BY Barbara Tako
PUBLISHED July 15, 2019
Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools–We'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com, or www.clutterclearingchoices.com.
The children are out of the house. There is a sense of slowing down. This is cancer survivorship – so far. What can the rest of life look like; those allegedly golden years? There is a sense of curiosity and of course, fear of recurrence. I want to try to cultivate the curiosity rather than the fear, I think.
After two cancers, one tends to become cautious. I am fortunate; I can measure my survivorship of each cancer in years. I am still here. I think that is a mantra that everyone who has or has had cancer could repeat each day to themselves. Today, we are here. Now, what to do with this very precious time?
As a writer and a reader, I have been exploring the question of what to do (and maybe not do) in this third phase of life; this final phase. “Final” sounds negative, but even for a glass-half-empty person like me, I don't think it really needs to be negative. Joy is still available be experienced.
After two cancers, one tends to become cautious. I am fortunate; I can measure my survivorship of each cancer in years. I am still here. I think that is a mantra that everyone who has or has had cancer could repeat each day to themselves. Today, we are here. Now, what to do with this very precious time?
As a writer and a reader, I have been exploring the question of what to do (and maybe not do) in this third phase of life; this final phase. “Final” sounds negative, but even for a glass-half-empty person like me, I don't think it really needs to be negative. Joy is still available be experienced.
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