A Cancer Death Sentence - What Would You Do?
A Death Sentence: Ovarian Cancer and How to LIVE with it!
If you were given a "death sentence" how would you react? Would this be stressful? Would you still live your life and function in a "normal" way?
If you received a diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer with an average life expectancy of less than 5 years, what would you do? You would learn that there is a possibility that you might beat the disease and live more than 5 years, but you have less than a 25% chance of this happening. You might not know exactly when you would die, but you know that your disease will eventually get you...
How will this diagnosis and situation affect the people around you or your relationship with these people? Would you feel Cheated? Will you feel free from expectations? Will you get on with your life in a different way? So, what would you do differently?
5 years ago my beautiful wife was diagnosed with stage 3C ovarian cancer. She has had two major surgeries that "gutted" her. She has had 4 rounds of chemotherapy and lost her hair as a side effect. She has been in 2 unsuccessful clinical trials. She has had good doctors and not such good doctors. She has had medical tests that you would not wish on your most disliked enemies. She has tried everything including many alternative treatments. She gets up every morning fighting this disease with everything that she has. She is alive and so far has outlived her prognosis. She lives each day with an appreciation that many people do not have. She shines as radiant light in a dark, depressing black hole of emotions. She does everything in her power to stay positive, to release negativity, and to not give in to her first surgeon's fatalistic attitude.
Many people would have given up hope an allowed themselves to succumb to their disease process. Many people would become self-destructive and follow a path of less brightness. Many people would withdraw from their lives or develop unhealthy relationships with the people in their lives. Most people with this diagnosis would feel some bitterness, ask "why me," and begin to "stew in their own juices." Some people would relinquish all responsibility to their doctors, or to their religion, or to their significant others. How would you respond?
My wife wanted to participate in her healing process. Her way was to fight with knowledge and determination. This is not the path that everyone should take. It is the way she chooses and it makes her feel good. Perhaps it has even helped. 5 years into it, her cancer markers (her CA 125) is down to 10. This is a very good thing with the lower the number the better. (Before her first surgery her CA 125 was over 900.) If want to live longer and better, then consider this option as a fighter... It may work out even better for you!
We all must pass on to another world at the end of our lives, but when our time comes will we have regrets of unfulfilled goals or aspirations? Will we celebrate the end of our mortal pains or the freedoms of our next spiritual existence? Will we be filled with fear of the unknown or adventurous as we go through our metamorphosis into the next stage? Will we try to hang on or go willingly?
We are all unique and have different situations that we will need to confront, but some consideration now may assist us in living our lives more effectively, with fewer regrets.
Please celebrate your life. My wife would say appreciate, honor, and do not squander your health. Do not miss the opportunity to tell your loved ones how much you care about them. Appreciate as many moments as you can, because you never know how many you left...
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