When I was adding the link to Ironwood Cancer and Research Center in one of my posts, I decided to look around and clicked on Esophageal Cancer. Now I could tell from the reactions of all the doctors that are caring for me, that this was a pretty nasty cancer.
I was not prepared to see that only 5% of people survive to five years post diagnosis. What amazes me, is that when I READ it, it scares the crap out of me, but as soon as I put it aside, it just becomes numbers and statistics, and … hey, someone DOES survive, and why can’t that someone be ME? Hope that doesn’t sound selfish.
I think at the beginning, I didn’t want to know anything about stages and my chances of survival because I didn’t pay attention to that stuff with the BC, and I got through it with flying colors. And in the general scheme of things lots more people GET BC, and so more research has been done to cure and/or control it.
Esophageal cancer is relatively rare. Estimated new cases in the United States in 2010 (of which I am now one) will be 16,640. This is from the National Cancer Institute. 14,500 people will die from this cancer in 2010.
I know this posting isn’t exactly in keeping with my normal positive writing, but I needed to put it there, type it, see it, and not be afraid of it. I am not afraid of it. Not thrilled in any sense of the word, but certainly no longer afraid to know the truth about it. I am ‘strong like bull.’
And now, I can just get on with the fight. The truth is out, and when you think about it, they’ve been telling me for quite a while that my lungs would shorten my lifespan, so I have, for a good long time, now, taken living as an amazing gift. That won’t change. And although there will probably be quite a few unpleasant things in store for me, I still have my family, my wonderful friends, Chihuahua slobber, beautiful Arizona skies, my hibiscus, and the trees in my back yard. I can still write, I can still read, I can still watch The Food Networks and eat vicariously through them. :D
No comments:
Post a Comment