My mom called me yesterday morning to let me know that my aunt and godmother had passed over to the other side after falling asleep on Sunday evening. This was not unexpected as she had been living with cancer for the last couple of years. A breast cancer survivor of several years ago, cancer had returned to other parts of her body. An expectation doesn’t make the news any easier to process. I’ve been musing over some pleasant memories and smiling. It’s funny in that it’s odd for me and my usually rock-solid memory for these things, but I don’t know how old she was. I know she was older than my mom by at least four years but I don’t know the specifics. You would think that a godson would know that about his godmother. The services are this coming weekend.
Hence the reason for my tweet yesterday morning, “Fuck Cancer”.
Over the past six months or so it seems like a lot of people in my life are affected by cancer. Radiation, chemotherapy, it all seems like such a shitty way to live but that’s part of surviving cancer, I guess. In a similar situation I don’t know if I would make the decision to go through all that, I don’t know if I’m strong enough. I know that people that live with cancer don’t deserve to do go through all those treatments but they’re very strong people to do so. That takes a lot of courage. The tin foil hat guy in me briefly wonders if there is a better solution out there but it wouldn’t benefit the pharmaceutical et. al. companies as much as the treatments for cancer, so that’s what’s available in Western medicine. I leave those thoughts for fleeting moments because they shouldn’t be focused on. Celebrating the lives of those that live with and pass on from cancer should be the focus, so that’s where I focus my energy.
I just know that my godmother was a pretty nifty lady. She was fairly soft spoken, had a wonderful smile and such a positive energy about her. A heart of gold. She was a strong woman, even before the cancer. I’m going to miss her.
Fuck Cancer.
Sad to hear of your loss. This has been the year of the tumors for many people. It is important for people to ask questions and make decisions about what treatment they want or do not want. Docs are are trained to treat – if there is any possible hope of prolonging life – individuals need to balance quality of life with living an extra day, week, month, year.
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
Very sorry to hear of your loss. As a survivor myself, I know that you never really lose the sense of Damocles’ Sword hanging over your head, even if you’re been deemed “cured.” I hope your Godmother had some great years after her treatment.
She had been living with cancer since 2001, though it looked like she had won for a number of years. She was a strong lady to go all through she did, just like too many people that I know that have to go through the same thing. Thank you for your kind words. Enjoy your Thanksgiving in the Arizona warmth!
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I have to admit, I am not sure I would do any ‘treatment” if diagnosed with cancer. Is it quality or quantity.
Take care and treasure the memories……..
Thank you for the kind words and enjoy the rest of your week!