BCAA: LIFE WITH CHRONIC "C"

Greetings dearest loyal readers! End of summer, back to school busy work has taken me away from regular posting - promise to be back on the job!

As I commute back and forth to this daily radiation adventure, I am of course meeting a new wonderful community of patients. I am realizing how many of us are in the "Chronic C" world. This little bugger does tend to revisit us. But current treatments for "Alumnae/alumni" move us from the "acute" list to the world of chronic treatment. Most of my new friends are returnees - we've weathered the initial treatment, we're doing okay, just returning to put the C bugs back out of commission.

I find there is a calm, a wisdom in these colleagues: we've looked over the edge, and survived. We accept that our futures are unknown. We relish our survival and celebrate our daily lives. Chronic Cancer is not unlike chronic diabetes, or other conditions that require constant vigilance, but are survivable. We are no longer in shock from that initial diagnosis. We are living our lives.

I met a delightful fellow, only 48, who is an alumnus of prostate cancer, now in for radiation due to a recurrence. He is the father of three lively boys, and relishing living his life with them. There also was the lovely gal who ran an herbal magic and gift shop, a delightful Guatemalan woman with her lovely caring son who allowed me to practice my bad Spanish, and the loyal son full with his full of energy dad who entertained us with logic puzzles. We chat with each other with a sense of knowing, of accepting, of relishing our days.

These friends, members of the BCAA (Big C Alumni Association), are gifts in my life. I am reminded daily of the beauty of friendship and support. I'm still researching the issue of chemo shortage: will update in the next post! Thanks for your ongoing connection! xx