"The Ten Commamndments for Cancer Survival"
1. Thou shalt regard the word "Cancer", as exactly that: a word. Nothing more, nothing less. For its original meaning has changed mightly over the years, as have such words as Smallpox, TB, and Polio, all onced dreaded ailments, now non-existent as maladies. And thus shalt go Cancer. The answer shall come to those who shall be present to hear it. Be present when it comes.
2. Thou shalt love thy chemotherapy, thy radiation, and other treatments even as thyself, for they are friends and champions. Although they exact a toll for their endeavors, they are oft most generous in the favors they bestow.
3. Thou shalt participate fully in thy recovery. Thou shalt learn all the details of thy ailment, its diagnosis, its treatments, conventional and alternative. Thou shalt discuss them openly and candidly with thy onocologist and shalt question all thou do not comprehend. Then, thou shalt cooperate intelligently and knowledgeably with thy doctor.
4. Thou shalt regard thy ailment as a temporary detour in thy life and shalt plan thy future as though this detour has not occured. Thou shalt never, at no time, nohow, regard thy temporary ailment as permanent. Thou shalt set long-term goals for thyself. For thou WILL verily recover and thy beliving so will contribute mightly to thy recovery.
5. Thou shalt express thy feelings candidly and openly to thy loved ones for they, too, are stricken. Thou shalt comfort and reassure them for they, too, needest comforting and reassurance, even as thou doest.
6. Thou salt be a comfort to the fellow Cancerites, providing knowledge, encouragement, understanding, and love. You shalt give them hope where there may be none, for only in hope lies their salvation. And by doing so, thou providest comfort for thy self, as well.
7. Thou shalt never relinquish hope, no matter how thou may feelest at that moment, for thou knowest, in the deep recesses of thy heart, that your discouragement is but fleeting and that a better day awaits thee.
8. Thou shalt not regard thy ailment as the sum total of thy life but as merely a part of it. Fill your life with other diversions, be they mundane, daring, alturistic, or merely amusing. To fill your life with your ailment is to surrender to it.
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