How many people do you know who has/have had cancer, breast or otherwise? One. My Dad is a prostate cancer survivor.
Do you ever use the word to describe a person? Ie: My last boss was a cancer. Surprisingly no. There are more inventive words to use in that regard. LOL
Have you ever been a caregiver? You know the answer to this one.
You have an amazing ability to make anything funny or at least light hearted. At the time, I didn't find breast cancer ,chemo or radiation something to joke about, it would have been helpful to view it with humor.
Best wishes and hugs to Vicki and to you as her caregiver...
For me it meant removal of the thyroid and then I had to do radioactive iodine treatment, which would not have been that bad except they found the cancer when I was pregnant and I had to have surgery/do radioactive iodine when I had a newborn. But this was 13 years ago and I have been clear since, and hopefully will continue to be :)
I'm sending prayers to your beautiful sister. It sucks so much that she has to go through this again. I don't think I'll every forget the term 'cancer spicy' again and that you compared kinds of cancer to salsa! This is what our world needs to keep us sane in hard times.❤
Oh that was a great early morning read thank you. Nothing like laughing about a disease to get the juices flowing. I will write about mine at some point but not yet. To answer your questions:
1. Too many
2. No, it is either moron or imbecile
3. Only accompanied friends to appointments
4. Too many.
Also thank you profusely for calling out “just” and “actually”.
My husband Bryan went through colon cancer treatment last year—surgery and chemo. During the same period of time our friend went through rectal cancer treatment. He’s a year post-treatment and so far remains cancer free, but he’s on surveillance for the next five years or so.
He would probably fall in the “just” category as you described, but it sure didn’t feel very “just.” At the beginning, we had no idea what would happen. I panicked every time he bought tickets to something or made plans more than a couple months out.
Okay, now that's out of the way, I'm so sorry your sister is in for another battle. That's literally the last thing a cancer patient wants to hear. 😞
I "just" have skin cancer. It's been 5 years since the last time they cut my face apart but I recently found out cancers back and I'll be getting another face-ectomy next month. Lucky for me, each time I get a new two-inch scar on my face they seem to pull together my wrinkles just enough to make it look like I had cosmetic surgery 😉 Gotta laugh at the hard stuff.
Ooof, ripped from my life’s headlines. Thank you for this. I feel a little silly having offered up help before reading how deep your experience with this disease goes, but also… humbly reiterated. We all need help for Pete’s sake!
And your perspective does exactly that. Helpful and straight to the dome and heart both.
Oh! And:
1) too many and counting. Every effing day.
2) never have, never will. Also pretty itchy whenever anyone uses ‘metastasized’ in a non-clinical context. Gross.
A difficult topic presented VERY well. 1. Many 2. No 3. Yes 4. Yes. -- Recently read the book "The Emperor of All Maladies" -- I suppose a coincidence. Highly recommended -- learned a lot. A little dated but learned a lot.
I'm so glad you had fun when dealing with your cancer and that you've been able to be there for your sister. And thanks for making me laugh with this.
My sister has stage four breast cancer which metastasized in her skin and brain. Extra spicy! But she just got the news that she's officially in remission! She'll be in treatment forever, but it looks like that forever will be longer than we expected. I was fortunate enough to be by her side a lot from the time she got her original diagnosis in 2016, through so many chemo treatments and surgeries and all that. And we actually did have a lot of fun. She maintained her sense of humor through it all and made her nurses laugh a lot. I think "have fun" should be an official prescription for anyone dealing with an illness like that!
How many people do you know who has/have had cancer, breast or otherwise? One. My Dad is a prostate cancer survivor.
Do you ever use the word to describe a person? Ie: My last boss was a cancer. Surprisingly no. There are more inventive words to use in that regard. LOL
Have you ever been a caregiver? You know the answer to this one.
Do you know any stupid people? Many. LOL
You have an amazing ability to make anything funny or at least light hearted. At the time, I didn't find breast cancer ,chemo or radiation something to joke about, it would have been helpful to view it with humor.
Best wishes and hugs to Vicki and to you as her caregiver...
Love, Jo
So glad to hear your sister is doing ok. This is an important post in so many ways. Thank you. Sending prayers for your sister and you!
Thx, Sue. 🙏🙏
Glad you sister is doing ok. I had thyroid cancer and people like to tell me it was the best kind of cancer that have which I did not appreciate!
Dang. Sick and funny together.
Does thyroid cancer go into remission? Does it mean a removal of the thyroid?
For me it meant removal of the thyroid and then I had to do radioactive iodine treatment, which would not have been that bad except they found the cancer when I was pregnant and I had to have surgery/do radioactive iodine when I had a newborn. But this was 13 years ago and I have been clear since, and hopefully will continue to be :)
Glad it’s done. 🙏
I'm sending prayers to your beautiful sister. It sucks so much that she has to go through this again. I don't think I'll every forget the term 'cancer spicy' again and that you compared kinds of cancer to salsa! This is what our world needs to keep us sane in hard times.❤
Thx, Donna. Humor is my sword. 🗡️🥰🙏
Oh that was a great early morning read thank you. Nothing like laughing about a disease to get the juices flowing. I will write about mine at some point but not yet. To answer your questions:
1. Too many
2. No, it is either moron or imbecile
3. Only accompanied friends to appointments
4. Too many.
Also thank you profusely for calling out “just” and “actually”.
Thx, Alex. Hope you aren’t in the cancer club. 🙏
Moron is a great word. It’s a high brow version of stupid. Hehe.
My husband Bryan went through colon cancer treatment last year—surgery and chemo. During the same period of time our friend went through rectal cancer treatment. He’s a year post-treatment and so far remains cancer free, but he’s on surveillance for the next five years or so.
He would probably fall in the “just” category as you described, but it sure didn’t feel very “just.” At the beginning, we had no idea what would happen. I panicked every time he bought tickets to something or made plans more than a couple months out.
I remember you mentioning what Bryan went thru. It’s scary even if it’s mild salsa. Sending healing thoughts to Bryan and your friend. 🙏
Of course I know stupid people!!!!!
Okay, now that's out of the way, I'm so sorry your sister is in for another battle. That's literally the last thing a cancer patient wants to hear. 😞
I "just" have skin cancer. It's been 5 years since the last time they cut my face apart but I recently found out cancers back and I'll be getting another face-ectomy next month. Lucky for me, each time I get a new two-inch scar on my face they seem to pull together my wrinkles just enough to make it look like I had cosmetic surgery 😉 Gotta laugh at the hard stuff.
There’s an essay in that last bit. Definitely your joke to tell. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with skin cancer. Crap.
🙏🙏
Ooof, ripped from my life’s headlines. Thank you for this. I feel a little silly having offered up help before reading how deep your experience with this disease goes, but also… humbly reiterated. We all need help for Pete’s sake!
And your perspective does exactly that. Helpful and straight to the dome and heart both.
Oh! And:
1) too many and counting. Every effing day.
2) never have, never will. Also pretty itchy whenever anyone uses ‘metastasized’ in a non-clinical context. Gross.
3) my own sister, but for different reasons.
4) seemingly a disease of its own these days
Thx for reading.
Support is always appreciated.
Yeah. That’s an odd word to use otherwise. Ie: The fire metastasized to the next neighborhood. Hmmm.
Or: downloads of (insert viral anything) metastasized overnight.
Thhhhhpt.
Nicely written Carissa. So glad you have been there for her and Rich. Being a caregiver is a rewarding but taxing role. Well done
Thx, Ronna. You were a huge help too. I know Vic (and Freddie 🐶) really appreciates your support.
Glad to hear your sister is convalescing well. Love the dark humor you bring to this.
Thx, Katherine. 🙏🙏
I'm so happy to hear your sister is recovering! Wishing her speedy healing and a long, happy life!
Thx, Shelly. 🙏🙏
Sending hugs and warm wishes from over here for you and Vicki. You are two beautiful women (inside and out)
Thx so much, Beth. 🙏🙏🙏
You are so fucking awesome. There are too many things I love about this piece to list. Wishing Vicki a full recovery and a long and healthy life.
Wow. Thx so much, Chris. 🙏🙏
A difficult topic presented VERY well. 1. Many 2. No 3. Yes 4. Yes. -- Recently read the book "The Emperor of All Maladies" -- I suppose a coincidence. Highly recommended -- learned a lot. A little dated but learned a lot.
I'm so glad you had fun when dealing with your cancer and that you've been able to be there for your sister. And thanks for making me laugh with this.
My sister has stage four breast cancer which metastasized in her skin and brain. Extra spicy! But she just got the news that she's officially in remission! She'll be in treatment forever, but it looks like that forever will be longer than we expected. I was fortunate enough to be by her side a lot from the time she got her original diagnosis in 2016, through so many chemo treatments and surgeries and all that. And we actually did have a lot of fun. She maintained her sense of humor through it all and made her nurses laugh a lot. I think "have fun" should be an official prescription for anyone dealing with an illness like that!
Thanks so much for this. I’m so relieved for your sister and also need to hear about stories like hers. Yes, the sense of humor is a necessity.