The local hangout was DJ’s. The best place to go for fun was DJ’s parents and DJ’s grandparents plot. They bordered one another and when combined, numbered over 20 acres, easy, of creek, orchard, pond, and dogs. There are two things I remember most about DJ, the milk bet, and his father’s wheat grass supply. His father succumbed to cancer after a long fight, and it profoundly affected DJ, and put an end to our childish games, and selfishly, our relationship as well. It’s hard to think about what I would do if I were diagnosed with cancer. A fortune telling gypsy can give us hope of fame, fortune, and bravery. The question is; can we actually face a challenge and overcome it?
I would be startled if I was diagnosed with cancer. It is true that cancer is one of the leading causes of death in our country, but even so less than one percent of our population was diagnosed with cancer in 20061. I wouldn’t find it likely that I would have such an illness, and I would tell those I involved in my treatment this. This would be my first reaction.
The shock having settled, I would start to investigate. Despite the low rates of cancer, perhaps I was indeed diagnosed with cancer, but I would then question the validity of my doctor’s diagnosis. Many, many, times doctors have made mistakes. Sometimes even the patient can be the true culprit in giving the medical practitioners false information. I would want to make sure I did have a cancerous colon. I would research the current diagnostic measures, such as those involving tumor markers, day to day symptoms, and whether they matched with others who have been diagnosed, and of course I would be the examiner of my own results. The largest fear I would have would be of misdiagnosis. I doubt those involved in my care would appreciate my intrusiveness, but I certainly wouldn’t start dedicating my time to treating an illness that didn’t exist.
Naturally, the diagnosis and its implications would be correct. I would soon be very angry with my state. I’ve taken good care of myself in my life. I had a rather interesting childhood, but since I’ve eaten right. I’ve avoided most extremes, taking stints at eating vegan and I don’t smoke. There’s a history of colon cancer in my family. I am very resentful that I have that risk factor, and no water would quench my thirst of anger directed at my parents. This is the only blotch on my record.
My family would support me regardless and I would start realizing my fate. I would change my diet and take all the medications and undergo all the treatment prescribed, and pray every day that if God were able to get me out of the state I would take my struggle and teach others what I’d learned. I would hope that I could take from the experience a lesson of how my own body operates and begin truly living the life I should, of charity and loving kindness.
This energy wouldn’t last. Acceptance would be inevitable and I would see how futile my efforts were. I’d continue them just to not stop fighting, but without a doubt I would be sad. I would be flailing, eating sprirulina and wheat grass, and drinking acai juice. I would wonder what the point of exercise would be if I were destined to die anyway. I would be sure my will was made out, and seek out others with my problem and hope that mutual struggle would unite us. Loneliness would be a companion, and there would be little motivation without others.
Many different emotions would flow through me, but there wouldn’t be anything that would be able to stop the disease, and in this kind, nothing would stop the ultimate acceptance I would feel. There isn’t much that one can do in life but always fight and I refuse to believe death would be any different. Advances in biotechnology are happening at a rate far exceeding that in all previous generations. There is most definitely a reason to fight.
By: Warncke, Seth
