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Time

I have been reading through the blog entries for John's caringbridge site and am marveling that it was only a year ago we were on that awful cancer journey. In a way it seems like so much longer - especially when I look at the Patient Patient and see just how wonderfully handsome and healthy he looks!

John still has periodic visits with the docs in A2 and prior to each we are both a little nervous that the docs might find something. He calls after each visit and we breathe a sigh of relief when the docs declare that all is clear! We know patients that went through treatment at the same time haven't received the same news; our concerns are grounded in reality and our sense of relief immense.

In the past year, we have heard of far too many people that have received a diagnosis of cancer - prostrate, breast, throat, etc. While the type of cancer may be very different, the family's reaction and the ultimate course of treatment may vary greatly. The family and loved ones go through an initial period of shock and then a gambit of emotions after. The treatment can range from surgery followed by radiation and/or chemo or just the toxic cocktails.

Here's why I'm blogging about this tonight - as many of you know, I'm a writer that has had varying degrees of commitment! But I am committed to my new project - I am finally, at last, writing a book. I know, you'll believe it when you read it!! It will is in the format of a blog similar to the caringbridge.org blogs and will be a look at a family going through cancer. Since it will be written by me and in my voice it will have humorous insights about and reactions to the cancer journey. One journey that unfortunately far too many of us have had to take.

It can, perhaps, be looked at as my loving tribute to the patient Patient. Or a tribute to my two sisters that have endured breast cancer treatments. Or to the many other friends and family that have also been on this journey. In any case, it will be a tribute to cancer survivors and equally important, their families and loved ones that joined them on the journey.

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It's not a popularity contest, but ...

When you encounter a totally different reality

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