I was a young child in the 1960s, yet I remember how the adults whispered when someone was diagnosed with cancer, the dreaded C Word.Now spoken of openly because of increasing survival rates and media attention, it is still feared.
My friend Debbie passed away in January, 2009; one year after entering the emergency room with abdominal pain, and subsequently hearing, “You have stage three ovarian cancer.”
How can we stop this horrible disease that attempts to take our lives, often succeeding. It is a beast, mean and ugly. It also has friends, two of which are named diabetes and heart disease. Where did they come from and why don’t they go away?
Many of you have been attacked by the cancer beast. The rest of us, too, for our family members and friends have experienced this major challenge. Even our favorite celebrities have caused us sadness; recently, Elizabeth Edwards.
As tough a battle it is, let’s continue our fight against the beast and its friends. The human body is strong and amazing. Let’s take care of it as best we can so that the beast and friends will back off! And if they do get their hands on us, let’s keep the fight going.
Continue your prayers, your hope, your learning, your doctor visits, your financial contributions to research, your improving diet and exercise, your support to those who need it, and your desire to live.
How has cancer touched your life?
In memory of
Deborah Renee Gilliam Goodman
11/17/59 – 1/21/09
“Debbie”
Deborah Renee Gilliam Goodman
11/17/59 – 1/21/09
“Debbie”
.
Image is a symbol for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
33 comments:
I lost my younger sister to cancer when her children were pre-teens. It now seems long ago, but it is still a thing that brings me to anger and pain in a surprising way. Good post.
Let's continue the fight. Learning and making life changes all the time as well, as talking openly about cancer and other horrible diseases helps to take their power, I pray we find a cure to cancer and continue to find treatments that work.
Thank you for helping to raise awareness.
Your friend's memory is honored here.
What an inspiring post, yes we must continue to care for our bodies and fight the honorable fight against this horrible disease.....:-)Hugs
I think ovarian cancer is one of the most insidious cancers because by the time you notice something is not right, it's already too far gone. I'm so sorry for your loss. Cancer is very frightening. My new son-in-law is a two-time cancer survivor. Our fingers are crossed that he will never have to deal with it again.
Cancer has touched my life like a hail of relentless gunfire over the years - family and friend, victims and survivors....like anyone else I know.
If you live long enough,it's not a question of whether you'll get cancer, but rather, what kind of cancer you will get. For real.
Cancer scares me so much! My grandma, uncle, dad, 2 aunts and 3 cousins had cancer. Sadly they all have passed away. My thoughts are always "who's next"!
I love your post!
My mother in law is having a double mastectomy this week. Anticipating radiation and chemo. My mom a cancer survivor also. My friend - just received a clean bill. Three years cancer free.
I could list more as many of us can. We continue to pray for all those and improve on our own habits.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Cancer has touched my life SO much. My Mother's family has been almost wiped out because of cancer. This was a great post.
Kristin
My whole family - both sides has seen a lot of cancer. Still a very scary disease. I'm sorry that you lost your friend.
Thank you for helping to raise awareness. I hope that by the time our children are grown (or even sooner!) that there would be a cure for cancer.
I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. I've been very fortunate in the health of myself and my family, but it is still an issue that affects us all in some way.
Hi Anita and I'm so sorry about your friend. It is indeed an insidious disease. Thanks for your comment on my post about my friend Nicki who calls herself 'a breast cancer survivor' and who has just done a naked photo shoot. perhaps I could be cheeky and ask some of your readers to pop over and see the amazing results for themselves. She did it purely to inspire other cancer sufferers. x
I am so sorry about the loss of your friend to cancer, but I say Amen to the rest of your post. A friend and teacher at my daughter's school just had surgery this week to remove a tumor on her colon. She is otherwise very healthy so I hope she will conquer the beast and live a long and healthy life post chemo and recovery. Yes, we must all strive to beat it.
How sad. The disease afflicts so many people around us, often too early. Our hearts go out to their struggle and to their families.
Sorry about your friend, Debbie. May she rest in peace.
Ugh, cancer is just sooo sucky.
My grandma died of it when I was pregnant with my first. She never got to meet her great grandson but I will say she had a great life. I tears me apart when young kids die of it. Terrible.
Cancer seems to touch so many families. Luckily my family has been spared thus far, but I have lost more than one friend to breast cancer and one to brain cancer. You are right. We must continue to support cancer research. Last year I contributed my photography to a book that all proceeds went to cancer research. It was a good feeling to help out in that small way.
Thanks for a great post,
Julie
Julie Magers Soulen Photography
I don't know anyone that hasn't been affected by cancer in some way. It's so easy to think that it won't somehow affect you but it does. I think of the loved ones who have lost their fight and it brings realization to me quickly.
My family has a long history of cancer. I've had a few scares with it. I pray a cure is found and I also pray for strength for those that are suffering with it. Sometimes I wonder why there is so much cancer now a days...? I wonder if it is because of all the chemicals we have produced that everything seems to be permeated with. Our ancestors lived in "cleaner" (chemical free) times...it seems as though cancer has increased as the years have gone by.
i am so sorry for your loss..may your dear friend rest in peace.
I'm very sorry about your friend... cancer is a beast and it is also very scary. Too often we hear these stories... there is a blog called Little Sparrows (It isn't on blogspot though) that focuses on children with cancer and photographers who do portraits of these children and their families.... it's really touching, but hard to read at times. Just one more thing to remind us of how precious life really is.
I'm truly sorry for the loss of your friend, Anita! Cancer scares me too.
My wife of 55 years had breast cancer twice, 10 years apart - once in each breast. She has been cancer free for a number of years now.
Wise post! Thanks for the reminder. We lost my father in law two years ago to cancer. When it hits close to home, it certainly changes your outlook.
Hugs and prayers to you in the loss of your friend.
I have lost both family members and dear friends to various cancers. I also have friends who are on the uphill battle. It is never any easier. I pray a cure will be found. There is so much suffering and loss of life...I just know that some day a cure must be found!
My father died over 20 years ago at age 67 of pancreatic cancer. This week I learned that one of my sister's husband who is now 66 has been diagnosed with numerous cancerous tumors in his stomach. The doctors are saying he'll probably have about 2 more months. It's tough for them. They live far from any other family and they won't answer the phone most of the time because they don't want to talk.
It would be great if cancer could be conquered.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Cancer has touched my life numerous times. My Mom had a mastectomy 19 years ago, both my grandmothers had cancer, my favorite aunt had cancer, my cousin has it now, her son died of it, and I have several friends dealing with it right now. I remember the days when we all said The C Word and not the word cancer. They can put a man on the moon why can't they find a cure for cancer? You are so right, we need to continue to fight it in any way we can!! Great post, may your friends passing not be in vain but urge more of us to fight on!!!!
I'm so sorry for your loss. Unfortunately ovarian cancer is the silent killer. Hugs.
My grandma died because of breast cancer.. I don't have any memories with her coz she passed away while I was still an infant..
I've learned that we can lower our risk on getting any damn illness by eating wisely :) there's a power in the act of eating.
Hi Anita- really sorry this happened. Thanks for raising awareness about this issue.
I'm sorry for your loss, you must miss Debbie lots. I too lost a friend to cancer, she struggled with it for a long time, and in the end, cancer won out. What a difficult journey to travel, and I second your advice to keep on doing what we can to beat the disease.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Both sides of my family have unfortunately been touched by cancer before.
Well said Anita...a tribute to your friend..!
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