I was really moved by Greg Fallis’ tribute to a political writer called Molly who died from breast cancer. He quotes her brutal description of the treatment in his post:
Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun. First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you.
Then, while reading Greg’s next post about Syria, I was struck by the similarities.
Cancer is like a civil war raging within. Battles are fought in different zones of the body and in the mind as the patient tries to stay positive.
Medical advisers are like the United Nations – trying to keep the peace and to decide what, if any, intervention is appropriate.
Is it better to try something in case it does help or to do nothing? Unfortunately, ignoring it doesn’t make the problem go away.
We can surrender some territory or make other concessions in an attempt to negotiate an uneasy cease fire and hope the conflict does not spread.
If necessary, we can mount attacks on strategic targets or launch a full-scale assault using the relatively crude and less discriminate weapons available within our arsenal – in the full knowledge that collateral damage is inevitable and with no guarantee that we will win in the end.
Family and friends stand by helplessly as the events unfold – at close range in homes and hospital wards instead of via the TV or Internet from the other side of the world.
At some point, one side concedes defeat. Depending on the outcome, the fighting turns into a waiting game to see where and when trouble might erupt again but life returns to some form of normality or it shifts focus and tries to minimise the suffering and delay the inevitable.
I am posting this on what would have been my mother’s 80th birthday had breast cancer not taken her from us over a decade ago. She lost her battle but many others are still fighting theirs – and more will follow. I wish them great mental and physical strength and courage in resisting this insidious onslaught.
I miss you, Mum.
Photo credit: © Cristian Tzecu | Dreamstime.com
Categories: Health & Wellbeing
Sustainability soapbox 
Pip, I know how you feel, I lost my Sister to cancer when she was only 40 y o with a family of 6 children.
I became the step father later, for the youngest daughter who was only 9 when her mother died. I searched for a few years and discovered doctors who have found that the predominant cause of cancer is worry, and they have found gentle ways to eliminate cancer. Dr Ian Gawler taught a group of us his techniques and so we set up a cancer support clinic in Perth in 1982, which is still going in Perth today. The Ian Gawler Foundation at Yarra Glen in Victoria, telephone 03 5967 1730, runs clinics which last a week teaching cancer sufferers how to overcome their cancers. I have worked with a lot of people with cancer and watched 50 % of them cure themselves because of their strong spirit and determination to win. The other 50% did nit have that determination and so passed away. So my message to all cancer sufferers is ring Dr Gawler, spend a week at his clinic with a strong determination to get rid of this pesty nuisance and you will give yourself the best posssible chance of a cure there is in Australia.
Cheers,
John
Hi John
Yet another great thing you have done!
I agree that the mind is really powerful but it has its limits – and medical interventions definitely have their place. I hope that people have access to excellent medical care and advice and are presented with a range of options for them to consider based on what suits them best – and not only what they can afford or is available near their home.
Thanks for stopping by and making readers aware of one option they may not know about.
Pip