Beating the Demon

Today on Facebook my best friend made an announcement. After months of fighting what started out to be colon cancer which moved to the lymph nodes in the groin was beaten. She beat that demon invader. She has four more treatments of chemo which will be in lower doses but that is just to finish her scheduled treatments.

How often do we wish we could hear that news? How often do we hear of a different ending?

There is one thing that over the years in most cases around me. Doctors don't seem to hand out death sentences anymore. By death sentence I mean automatically tearing down the confidence and fight of the patient by giving them a time limit.

In December 1983 my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. When they had finally figured it out they gave her two to three years to live. Going through with the radiation and chemo she died on March 17, 1984. A little over three monts later.

Two years later my husband was diagnosed with an astrocytoma of the brain. This cancer roots throughout the brain. The neurosurgeon went in and removed the center of the cancer. He did not want to tear through the brain digging out cancer and causing other problems. My husband was given a year if they could go into remission. He did not have chemo. They felt that it would not help. He did have a series of radiation treatments and did go into remission for nine years. He lived nine years and was killed in an accident. He was blessed by God. He always told me he wanted to die doing something he loved. He did not want to lay and suffer from that cancer. He was hit by a car while running and died with no suffering.

I also have a friend diagnosed with lung cancer. She is also going through the fight of her life with chemo and radiation. The cancer is in both lungs and she is fighting it with confidence and the love of two sons. One grown and one just turned thirteen. Her biggest worry is leaving the youngest one at this age. Unfortunately she smoked like a chimney but I have to admit that once those rotten cigarettes had their hold on me also. I just had a little more will power.

My point is that prognosis is not the best but she is still giving it a positive fight. Her doctor has expressed his concern about the cancer spreading but whatever God decides she is leaning on him.

I, myself have never experience having this dreadful demon. I fear it though. I have my check ups and mammograms and always wonder if I am dealt that card, how will I handle it. Will I have the guts my mother, my husband and my friends have had. I have seen the fear in their eyes. I can only imagine. I know one thing. I will lean on God as I always have. I believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe these reasons are so I can write about them. Maybe so we can realize how precious life is and how precious these people are to us.

Whatever the reason, may God be with anyone dealing with this demon. May one day this demon invader be totally beaten.