Thursday, January 25, 2007
THE UGLY FACE OF CANCER.....
Cancer is a funny animal. It slinks around invisible spaces and picks and chooses who it will invade and where. The condemned carry on their lives with normal thoughts and activities. Life is good….or so they think.
Slowly and ever so cunningly the disease masks it’s face with other ailments. The victim begins to take notice that something is going on which is somehow different. With most, it seems right that it is just “age”……..we are programmed to expect limitations as we grow older and it seems logical. With those young in years, they assume it is just a bump in the road. They expect a quick fix.
TV commercials explain treatments……pills in a bottle. They come in all colors and shapes with a bevy of disclaimers….there are mountains of information on the internet. By the time the victim has self-diagnosed himself and heard more from family and friends…..there is a little clock ticking that tells him it is more than just a simple problem.
Doctors are pretty much used to your ailments and begin with the usual treatments. Depending on how much pressure you bring to the table……more time ticks by. Somewhere, at some point, the realization that all is not well hits like a brick wall. The doctor is now in tune with your insecurity and orders a CT or MRI….after the wait is over, he summons you back for the results.
What did he just say? Why does he look so solemn? Did he just say, cancer? Me? How did this happen? Where? How long have I had it? The mind is racing in roller-coaster tracks. Denial…..fear, the heart is palpitating like a sledge hammer. The doctor appears to have as much trouble giving you the results as you do in hearing them. He has had a long relationship with you……he knows the family….he respects you and has always admired your humility in great accomplishments. Now he is handing you a death sentence………it is terminal.
The two of you stare at each other for what seems to be an endless amount of time. You ask, “How long do I have?” and he says, “It has metastasized and gone to the liver. You don’t have much time.” After that you feel nothing…..there are no more questions. The doctor goes on talking about what you need to do first, in the way of treatment but his words are muffled while your thoughts stray away…..far away.
Cancer has thrown the gauntlet down……and he is smiling…………
Until tomorrow, I am,
Essentially Esther
Slowly and ever so cunningly the disease masks it’s face with other ailments. The victim begins to take notice that something is going on which is somehow different. With most, it seems right that it is just “age”……..we are programmed to expect limitations as we grow older and it seems logical. With those young in years, they assume it is just a bump in the road. They expect a quick fix.
TV commercials explain treatments……pills in a bottle. They come in all colors and shapes with a bevy of disclaimers….there are mountains of information on the internet. By the time the victim has self-diagnosed himself and heard more from family and friends…..there is a little clock ticking that tells him it is more than just a simple problem.
Doctors are pretty much used to your ailments and begin with the usual treatments. Depending on how much pressure you bring to the table……more time ticks by. Somewhere, at some point, the realization that all is not well hits like a brick wall. The doctor is now in tune with your insecurity and orders a CT or MRI….after the wait is over, he summons you back for the results.
What did he just say? Why does he look so solemn? Did he just say, cancer? Me? How did this happen? Where? How long have I had it? The mind is racing in roller-coaster tracks. Denial…..fear, the heart is palpitating like a sledge hammer. The doctor appears to have as much trouble giving you the results as you do in hearing them. He has had a long relationship with you……he knows the family….he respects you and has always admired your humility in great accomplishments. Now he is handing you a death sentence………it is terminal.
The two of you stare at each other for what seems to be an endless amount of time. You ask, “How long do I have?” and he says, “It has metastasized and gone to the liver. You don’t have much time.” After that you feel nothing…..there are no more questions. The doctor goes on talking about what you need to do first, in the way of treatment but his words are muffled while your thoughts stray away…..far away.
Cancer has thrown the gauntlet down……and he is smiling…………
Until tomorrow, I am,
Essentially Esther
