|
Dear breast cancer:
Once again it is October
and your name is one everyone’s lips. The world has turned to a sea
of pink and large and small corporations and companies look to make
money based on your infamy and the fear that lurks in the hearts and
souls of women the world over. So many women, who buy this, support
that, donate to this fundraiser, walk for 2 days, run for 5
kilometres and all the while, hoping and praying that you and they
never come face to face. They can run from you but sadly too many
cannot hide.
You are a sneaky,
insidious devil aren’t you breast cancer. You hide where you can
and then when someone least expects you, out you come ready to wreak
havoc on the life of the woman (or man) you have claimed as “your
own”, their family and their friends. You think you rule with the
upper hand but remember this breast cancer...we know so much more
about you now and we are prepared to do battle with you and show you
that we are not to be trifled with.
It’s true that some of
the people you visit are not aware of your presence and you manage
to get a firm grip into their lives and for that I say shame on
you. But remember this...we are educated now about early detection
and having yearly mammograms and doing breast self exams and we are
well informed about how you operate. Oh yes we are.
After seven years, I
still refer to you as breast cancer is small letters because even
though you claimed a large part of my time and my energy and my
life, you are still just this small, insignificant, bothersome
little runt. You do not deserve to be spoken to with respect. You
need to remember that whatever else you have brought into my life
and the lives of so many others, what you gave me was the biggest
gift of all.
You made me remember how
much life is to be savoured and appreciated. You reminded me of all
the small and large things to be grateful for in my life, every
single day. You gave me freedom and you taught me how to deal with
fear. You gave me the gift of every day – that this day; the one I
am in is the one that matters. Not yesterday, not tomorrow but
simply today.
When my hair started to
fall out, I had my hair dresser shave it off and I loved being
bald. True, I wore a wig when I went outdoors and I lived in
bandanas the rest of the time, but the minute I hit the front door,
you know that wig went flying onto the bench in the hall. And how
many times did I open the front door to guests bald as a billiard
ball? And how comfortable were people with me...with the real me,
the open, honest, bare to the bones this is who I am me? But most
importantly breast cancer, you taught me to love myself and to see
myself right down to my soul.
You arrived thinking you
were going to be my final nemesis. You left knowing that I had the
gumption, the spirit, the courage and the strength to say “not just
yet”.
With fists up,
Sherry Smyth
Contributor |
