Behind Big C

When I heard about the news regarding Former President Cory Aquino's diagnosis of having a colon cancer, I felt sad and got envious of her at the same time. It's normal to be sad about the news but being envious of a cancer patient...? Now that is something...

I first handled a cancer patient when I was in third year college. I can not remember what kind of cancer it was. Probably in the reproductive system because she was in an isolated OB room that time. I didn't get a chance to talk to her because the hospital is a private and a tertiary institute and normally, they don't allow nursing students to handle such cases in a private hospital. It's like the patient's chart I was holding was my imaginary patient because that's the only thing I had in order to get to know more of her. I was able to know her medical history but not what she felt about what she was going through. That was four years ago and I do not know if she survived cancer...

I was already a graduating nursing student when I handled cancer patients for the second time. We were assigned in a pediatric ward. The ward is divided into three rooms - room 1, 2 and 3. The third room is for isolated cases. I was once assigned in that isolated room. And there, I saw three cute little children - with bald heads, pale faces and thin bodies. Yes, at their early age they have leukemia. Damn. You know what I hate in nursing? It's when tears form in my eyes every time I encounter pitiful patients and all I can do is to control them from falling which is sometimes successful and sometimes not. Once again, I didn't get a chance to talk with them because I had 6 other patients to handle. We were in public hospital so imagine the toxicity (busyness). I just wondered, why them? Why so early? I know that God has His own plans for them, but why do they have to suffer at an early age? Why were they deprived of enjoying a normal kid's life?

I stated in the first part of this entry that I envy Mrs. Cory Aquino for what she is going through. Why? Because I know, cancer gives a big impact to one's life. It changes a patient's outlook in life. Now let me share you two stories regarding cancer and how it changes one's outlook.

A famous Anglican bishop tells this story on himself.

When I was told that I had six months to live, the first reaction was naturally one of shock... but I also felt liberated: for now I clearly saw the target I was aiming at. But my second reaction was: "Gosh, six months is a long time. One can do a lot in that time. How am I going to use it?"

The first reaction is to give up things; one sifts out the non essentials. But I soon realized that I was not to prepare for death, but in a truly Christian way, prepare for "eternal life, " which means real living.

This Christian attitude means that I am more concerned about the quality of life than its quantity. How long it goes on is purely secondary.

So, preparing for eternity means: learning to really live. It means becoming more concerned with contributing to and enjoying what matters most. It means giving to life, and getting the most from it - white it is still there. - John Robinson

Here's the second story:

The following is from a comment in a New Zealand newspapers by the director of radiography of that country. That is the department which makes X-rays, and it is usually an X-ray that shows that someone has cancer. He puts it this way:

"Cancer makes people start thinking about the quality of their lives. Everything they do now has a keener edge on it, and they get more out of life. In fact, some people never become completely human beings and really start living until they get cancer.

We all know we are going to die sometime, but cancer makes people face up to it. They are going to go on living with a lot of extra enjoyment, just because they have faced the fear of death. Cancer patients aren't dying. They're living. I have never seen a suicide because of cancer." - Palmerston North Evening Standard

One thing that makes a cancer patient lucky is that he or she is given a deadline of his or her life. We know that only God knows when our life will be taken away from us. Although it is somewhat a pressure to a cancer patient when he or she is being told about his or her time left here on earth, this gives them an opportunity to do what they want to do or what they haven't done in their lives. This gives them an opportunity to make their lives worthy and memorable for their loved ones and also to fight and just be strong despite the thought of dying any time.

This gives us a message that whether we have a cancer, or any chronic disease or healthy, we have to live our life to the fullest. Like what's stated there, let us all learn to really live. Why wait for tomorrow? Do it now! Make your life worth remembering...

I really look up to cancer patients because of their strength. They may not be strong physically and physiologically and sometimes emotionally, but spiritually speaking, they are. How can a cancer patient courageously fight like a soldier in war? It's all about the faith.

My uncle died because of lung cancer. They stayed here in our house while he was undergoing chemotherapy. I've seen how he fought his illness even if his body wanted to give up. He was a faithful and religious man. I know that his faith made him a strong person while he was still living. Even if he did not survive cancer, we will always remember him as the strong policeman we used to know.

Getting a cancer is one of our fears. Aside from it is costly, the pain it inflicts is piercing. It affects someone's life. Anyone can get it. The cause may be unknown but this can be inherited. It runs in the genes, as they say. So let me tell you about the seven warning signs that the American Cancer Society identified:

Change in bowel or bladder habits could be a sign of colorectal cancer.

Asore that does not heal on the skin or in the mouth could be a malignancy and should be checked by a doctor.

Unusual bleeding or discharge from the rectum, bladder or vagina could mean colorectal, prostate, bladder or cervical cancer.

Thickening of breast tissue or a new lump in the breast is a warning sign of breast cancer. A lump in the testes could mean testicular cancer.

Indigestion or trouble swallowing could be cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus or stomach.

Obvious changes to moles or warts could mean skin cancer.

Nagging cough or hoarseness that persists for four to six weeks could be a sign of lung or throat cancer.

Source: Advocate Health

So there. Take care of your health. Always remember that health is wealth. And once again, move now. Live your life like you won't wake up tomorrow anymore. Don't wait for cancer to tell you to really live.

Oh yes, I hate nursing for making me cry but I love it because behind every illness I am exposed to, I learn something.