World Cancer Day 2010
Yesterday, February 4th 2010, was World Cancer Day. I thought about writing a blog post on the topic for most of the day, but I couldn’t really stomach doing it. If you have read my blog, you’ll know that I’ve lost 3 of my closest family members to cancer. You may also know that a very dear friend of mine, Derek K. Miller, is currently battling cancer.
One of the most important people in my life, my Mom’s sister, the woman whom I called my second mother and the one I bought flowers, cards and a gift on Mother’s Day (in addition, obviously, to my Mother) succumbed to lung cancer on February 1st, 1999.
This week marked 11 years, and I am still scarred by the passing of my auntie. Normally, around the beginning of February, my mood is somber and punctuated by a desire to be (for the most part) alone. But I also realize that part of my duty is to overcome my own pain and loss and raise awareness of worthy and important causes, and one of them is World Cancer Day. From the campaign website:
Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. WHO estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention. Each year on 4 February, WHO supports International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer. Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes. This year’s theme, “Cancer can be prevented too”, focusses on simple measures to prevent cancer
Despite a challenging week, I’m very pleased to share the good news that my friends Derek and Airdrie shared yesterday – Derek’s tumors have shrunk for the first time ever (which, as he said, “I’m not out of the woods, but at least I’m no longer sinking slowly into quicksand either”. In a week that begun with a lot of sadness and pain, triggered by the anniversary of my Auntie’s passing, Derek’s news were just fantastic, and I’m really happy. The week is ending well.
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