Judy died in November of last year, from colon cancer, also after a very lengthy and valiant battle. She too tried an alternative cancer treatment, hydrotherapy. Her husband gave up and forced her to return home for hospice care. Morphine was administered, against Judy's wishes; she had no more strength to battle on alone without her husband's support. Her older sister, Barbara, was one of her principle caregivers. Three months after Judy's passing, Barbara was diagnosed with an aggressive stomach tumor. She didn't even have a chance to choose her treatment, she was gone within a week. They both leave behind many pieces of their artwork, testaments and contributions to how they viewed life.
Each of us can share an endless list of stories and memories of loved ones who have passed from cancer. Yes, dying is a part of life and we never get over it. We cannot stop talking about it, hearing of it, nor can we ever truly prepare for it.
On the other hand, I prefer to talk more about what we can DO. First and foremost, we can stop dreading the word "cancer" as if it is the most dreaded word one can hear from a doctor, as if he is pronouncing a sure death sentence.
Cancer, in and of itself is a symptom. It is our body's way of dealing with an abnormality, sending in an army of cells to surround and protect a suspicious area. How we support our body to heal itself is where one gets into trouble.
Yesterday, on the radio, I was listening to a holistic health practitioner give the perfect metaphor for the human body. He said to think of our bodies as we would a car. There are very basic needs to keep to keep it running smoothly. The quality of gasoline for optimum performance and regular maintenance pretty much insure a long useful life. If and when a "red light" goes on, we are alerted to a potential problem. Do we take the car into a garage mechanic and tell him to surgically remove the light apparatus? Hah! Think long and hard about this one.
