Cancer: Once my enemy, always my enemy [Post from the archives]
My Mom’s youngest sister passed away from cancer one year ago yesterday. I wrote this blog post as part of my Blogathon 2009, which raised $ 1,125 for the BC Cancer Foundation. I am republishing this post in loving memory of my Aunt on the anniversary of her passing.
I remember that when I was a little kid, I wanted to be a doctor (MD). I am a doctor now, but not of the type that heals people. However, I did read a lot of medical literature, particularly abnormal growth (e.g. tumors/cancer). I first knew of the devastating effects of cancer when my grandmother became ill with pancreatic cancer. My grandma took every single treatment available to her (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery). She passed away in 1997, and according to my Dad’s family, her agony was tremendously long. At the time, I was in Canada and therefore I was really not informed.
The second time I was faced with the effects of cancer touched me MUCH closer to home. I remember the afternoon when I graduated from my Masters’ degree, my aunt and Mom came to Vancouver and my auntie kept coughing. My Mom told my Aunt that they would go to the doctor as soon as they came back to Mexico and that she should be taking care of herself. That was in November. My auntie passed away in February of the following year. It was lung cancer, and it took her away from us really quickly. To this day, I haven’t recovered from losing the person that I saw like my second mother.
The third time I was confronted with cancer (not myself, but a member of my family) occurred just last year. My auntie (the only surviving sister of my Mom) suffered a really devastating case of colorectal cancer. She did survive for 2 years. You may recall that around this time last year, I had to flow to Mexico as my auntie had passed away and I had to go to the funeral and stay a few weeks to comfort my Mom.
One of my very good friends from the blogging community is currently battling cancer and I am happy to report that his tumors have stopped growing, which is really good news. I had the pleasure of seeing him today during Blogathon and it really cheered me up to see him doing well.
Cancer has been my enemy and the enemy of my loved ones for a long time, and one of these days, we are going to win. I look forward to that day.
Related posts:
- Why February 1st hurts so much
- Guest post: @HenryJue’s Ride to Conquer Cancer
- Cancer, once my enemy, always my enemy
- Guest post: Blogging for a cause and the BC Cancer Foundation by Nick Locke
- Blogathon 2009: Raul’s fundraising efforts for the BC Cancer Foundation
I too look fwd to that day. I spent this morning at a funeral for a dear friend who at 38 died of cancer. It sucks, I don’t get it and it makes me angry. She was a treasure, touched many lives and I will always celebrate her. Someone taken far too early…
Raul, Tanya sent me. Your post is so moving. I don’t know anyone who has not been touched by cancer, but to have 3 of your relatives suffer from it is particularly sad. Many years ago, I screened Pap Smears (as a Cytotechnologist). Whenever we found cancer cells in a slide, we were devastated. Luckily, it didn’t happen every day. Back then, we all thought that the answer to curing cancer was just around the corner. It seems we still think and hope that – 45 years later. I still have faith that it will happen.