Hi Hubskiers! In October 2011 I began having breathing troubles and went to the doctor for what I thought would be a prescription for antibodies. Instead it was a start of an experience that continues to transform how I see the world and think about life. A few of you know I've been fighting lymph cancer now for 18 months. I went into remission in March 2012. After a long recovery I was finally better in January 2013, but only for a disappointingly short time. My cancer is back and I'm staring chemo again.
During the first 5 months of my disease I ran a blog, very detailed, about my experiences. I've just opened up the blog again, and the whole story is there from the beginning. Maybe you or someone you know with cancer would find this helpful. (I'm anticipating a much milder treatment this time around than the first time, so I can't promise anything dramatic. I will promise the truth, neither sweetened nor made to seem worse that it is.)
You are certainly welcome to join me on this voyage! It makes me feel better sharing. You are also welcome to comment on the blog, or here on Hubski. I'd love to hear about your experiences too!
I have only joined recently, but I think it's very cool that you're blogging about your experience. Though it's so common, until I read a book on the history of cancer treatment, I had no idea that I had no idea about what cancer, not to mention different cancers entailed, or why its treatment is so incredibly difficult. I am sorry to hear that you are sick after being well. I really hope that it responds well to treatment.
I have a question, if you don't mind. My aunt has been diagnosed with cancer. So far, she has several masses in her brain and it has metastasized and spread to several of her major organs. She can no longer speak, is bedridden and has lost control of her bodily functions.
As if that weren't bad enough, her husband has made the decision to keep the test results from her. In the country they live in, this is somehow OK with the doctors. My uncle is in full-denial as is one of his sons, my cousin. The other son is doing his best, but he's the younger brother and we come from a culture with an antiquated hierarchy. They are currently looking for alternative cures via homeopathic medicine.
They've always been a hard luck family and have had to take out loans from the rest of the family and now my parents, my other uncle and aunt are chipping in to get a full-time nurse for her. My sick aunt has to know that something is seriously wrong. My extended family, led by my father (who is the eldest) is trying to delicately convince my uncle that he needs to accept that his wife has cancer and that she has the right to know what's wrong with her. My father is also trying to get my uncle ready for when she dies, as it seems she will, soon.
I know that everyone is different, but not everyone gets cancer. Given what you know from yours, would you want to know exactly what is wrong? I really want to help my aunt as I love her, but like the rest of my extended family I feel like I can't tell my uncle what to do for his wife, especially not from thousands of miles away, though I feel like it's the thing to do.