National Cancer Survivor Day

June 1, 2014 is National Cancer Survivor Day.  I happen to know a few survivors.

When I was a teenager, my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She was the first person I’d ever known to have cancer.  Ever.  I don’t remember her talking about it much.  I remember her looking ill, and I remember people talking about her boobs.  A double mastectomy she had.  She also had reconstructive surgery.  It was newsworthy back then.  My aunt is a glamorous woman, always with her hair done and her makeup on, dressed to the 9’s and jewelry befitting a princess.  A right proper southern lady if ever there was one in this state.

When I became an adult, I learned that my great grandmother had cancer, and the doctors sent her home to die.  There was nothing they could do for her, at 80 years old, except kill her more quickly.

Also as an adult, I learned that my grandmother (daughter of the above mentioned great grandmother) had stage 3 cervical cancer.  She was a 30 year survivor.

My two of my mom’s mother’s sisters had cancer.  Breast, Lung, Brain… it eventually took both their lives, but the one sister survived several years.

My brother in law is a 35 (and counting) year leukemia survivor.

My sister is a Kidney cancer survivor.

My uncle fought bile duct cancer for a few years.

There are probably people I don’t know about fighting it right now.  Some people never tell until it’s close to the end of their time here.

And so, in honor of all the people in my life who have survived cancer, and those who fought it with a victorious spirit, I pray your day is full of joy and peace, and that you have many more days of laughter ahead!