Friday, December 4, 2015

I'm Not Done Yet



I’m sorry to tell you this but you have breast cancer.

It’s a rare kind of cancer and it is aggressive. We’re not sure why it grows and we’re not sure how to make it go away. If we do manage to make it go away, it likes to come back again. If it does come back, it’s not good.

Those weren’t the exact words the doctor said to me. But that’s what he meant.



My heart froze.
My brain raced.
My soul shattered.

I remember thinking, “I don’t want to die. I’m not done yet.”



7 months have now passed since my diagnosis and I am often asked if cancer has changed me in any way. I’m not sure. In fact, I’ve written and rewritten this blog 4 different times, trying to discover a meaningful answer to that question. It doesn’t help that I am still a bit angry about the turn my life has taken. I don’t want to consider cancer a blessing. I don’t want to learn any lessons from cancer. I don’t want to become a better person because of cancer. I don’t want to be grateful for one single thing that has resulted from this diagnosis. Cancer is terrifying and sometimes I just want to whine about how unfair it all seems.

Cancer is also complicated. It is not a single disease. It does not have a single cause and it does not have a single cure. There are many different kinds of breast cancer alone, with many different suspected causes and suggested treatments. Each case, including my own, is unique. While I have now finished my initial course of treatment, I am by no means “done” dealing with cancer and its side effects. One way or another, cancer will be a big part of my life for many years to come-maybe forever. I don’t know why I got cancer. I don’t know if the treatments I chose will work. I don’t know if I will live one more year or fifty more years. There are very few certainties in the world of cancer-despite what the internet, well meaning friends and your coworker’s aunt’s cousin who researches avocado extract would have us believe. I have always been a planner with a "to do" list and an agenda to accomplish. Cancer doesn’t care about my list or my agenda. In fact, I go to bed each night with many more questions running through my head than answers. Cancer has taught me to be at peace with that.

Cancer has also driven home the fact that being nice matters. Every day we encounter people in the world who drive us nuts or hurt our feelings or really anger us. There are plenty of people in real life or online that behave in a way we just cannot comprehend. And whether they are there by fate or their own poor choices, there are many people in the world who just seem to get in our emotional or physical way. I’ve been all of these people. I’ve been annoying. I’ve said hurtful things. I haven’t behaved as I was expected to. I’ve been helpless. I’ve been useless. I’ve been a burden.

And people were still nice to me. I can tell you that it was an incredible blessing and has made an enormous difference in my life. Every person on this planet deserves to have that. It sounds simplistic and naive, but I believe without one ounce of doubt that-

Being. Nice. Matters.

All of the time.

Every single day.

For no reason.

No matter what.

Especially when you don’t want to be.



I received a certificate the other day congratulating me on completing a course of radiation. It might as well have said, “Congratulations! You showed up every day!” I’ve certainly had many days where showing up was the only thing I did. And it most definitely was not certificate worthy. I don’t know what the future holds, but it has been 7 months since I looked at my doctor and thought, “I’m not done yet.” I still feel the same way. So for now, I think I’ll just keep showing up.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Melissa, My mother has cancer today. This is her 4th time with the first one happening in 1968. I truly believe that your attitude will be your greatest asset through all of this.

God Bless You!

Don Berry

Unknown said...

I love that you are off the blogging hiatus. I love this one so much. I love that your my cousin. When I grow up I want to be as brave as you are.
so happy that "You are not done yet"!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad that you're back, your humor and vibrant personality were missed. your stories about "the boy" and "the girl" are priceless. Jim and I are pulling for you, you're in our prayers.
God bless you Melissa.
Hazel