To OWN (or NOT to own) my cancer

This topic peaked my interest because I guess I had a weird thought process when it came to my bladder cancer. I figured out that my bladder was pissed off at me because I had not taken care of it (UTI's pretty much my whole life) and it got tired of dealing with me and grew cancer. Kind of like when a kid pulls a dog's tail one too many times so it bites the kid... Anyway, I put the blame for the eventual RC on the bladder. Yes, I could have and should have treated it better, but in the end, it was the bladder that made the decision that it needed to go away. I don't know... like I said, weird. But, it kept me, and still keeps me sane.

When my husband got lung cancer 6 months after my RC, he seemed to blame himself for causing it. I won't argue... he'd been tempting fate for a long time with his history as a firefighter (back in the days when they did not wear gear) and being a smoker. BUT, his approach made it MUCH harder. His treatment was harder to get through, his lows were a LOT lower, etc. He didn't target the offending organ, but himself as a whole.

Anyway, for what it's worth.. I really do believe that the approach you take to dealing with this has a huge impact.

I was reading blogs in non invasive and found this. It was only after I started to reply that I realized it was older. You are right though, what ever works.

I suppose this post could be anywhere but it was originally posted by Rosemary in non-invasive who was a long time supporter of this forum and of web/cafe and also a Moderator. She has T1G3 BLC and is doing well under the care of Dr. Pruthi down in the Carolina's. I wish she was still here in non-invasive. I think she was one of the first to have reported arthritic complications from BCG and it brought some flak as it frightened some people. But it does happen and much more than gets reported.
So whether it is nobler in the heart to own or disown your cancer.....hey whatever works.
Pat

Just thinking out loud with you even though this is an older blog. Do you think it is like when we are kids and the word mine means I get to keep this? If it isn't mine....my body does not need to keep it. It can stay gone...

** This thread discusses the content article: To OWN (or NOT to own) my cancer **

This summer I attended the wedding of my nephew in Boise, Idaho where I met a very lovely woman (my nephew's new Mother In Law) who told me her story of surviving breast cancer. I was very interested in speaking to her about cancer issues because in conversations with her daughter I had learned that this lady was proactive in preventive herbalism and had traveled to Mexico to do the treatments there.

Anyway, her story was as follows, that when she was diagnosed about 3 years ago, the prognosis was not very good. She was given 6 months to live. She tried chemotherapy but became so ill that she took herself to Mexico and began the treatments there. So far, according to her rendition, she has lived well beyond her initial prognosis and without the prescribed chemotherapy.

That's HER story....

As I began to recount my own cancer saga to her and in a very unconscious way, I began with the following introductional phrase, "When I got MY cancer...."

Well, the Mother In Law stopped me in the middle of my sentence and gently rebuked me by saying, "NEVER CALL IT YOUR CANCER. Get this idea out of your mind. It is not YOUR cancer. Learn to not own it. I learned this concept from a cancer therapist and it is very good advice."

Well, I was a little taken aback, but I can say that in my initial reaction I did not feel to be in agreement with this concept.

Not wanting to shake her faith, I did not at that time reply, but the idea has since been on my mind and I do not know whether I am right or I am wrong.

I really can't comprehend of the cancer in any other way.

Just thinking out loud.....



This summer I attended the wedding of my nephew in Boise, Idaho where I met a very lovely woman (my nephew's new Mother In Law) who told me her story of surviving breast cancer. I was very interested in speaking to her about cancer issues because in conversations with her daughter I had learned that this lady was proactive in preventive herbalism and had traveled to Mexico to do the treatments there.

Anyway, her story was as follows, that when she was diagnosed about 3 years ago, the prognosis was not very good. She was given 6 months to live. She tried chemotherapy but became so ill that she took herself to Mexico and began the treatments there. So far, according to her rendition, she has lived well beyond her initial prognosis and without the prescribed chemotherapy.

That's HER story....

As I began to recount my own cancer saga to her and in a very unconscious way, I began with the following introductional phrase, "When I got MY cancer...."

Well, the Mother In Law stopped me in the middle of my sentence and gently rebuked me by saying, "NEVER CALL IT YOUR CANCER. Get this idea out of your mind. It is not YOUR cancer. Learn to not own it. I learned this concept from a cancer therapist and it is very good advice."

Well, I was a little taken aback, but I can say that in my initial reaction I did not feel to be in agreement with this concept.

Not wanting to shake her faith, I did not at that time reply, but the idea has since been on my mind and I do not know whether I am right or I am wrong.

I really can't comprehend of the cancer in any other way.

Just thinking out loud.....