DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY

Tom saw my Pulmonary doctor yesterday.  He is fine.  Ironic isn't it/  He's been smoking for over 60 years.  I quit 26 years ago.  I have Stage 4 lung cancer.  Which proves what?  Some people are just lucky.  Not that I wanted his diagnosis to be anything awful.  I was so relieved when he told me,  especially since his brother is in the last stages of this dreaded disease.

The January 15th edition of the Intelligencer Journal and the Lancaster New Era front page article headline read "Cancer columns cause uproar."  The story was about a 44 year old woman's blogs and tweets about her cancer treatments.  It seems that a couple from N.Y., the woman a Guardian columnist and her husband, former executive editor of the N.Y. Times took umbrage with Adams' publishing columns about her situation and how she is dealing with it.  

She has chosen the most aggressive approach to halt the progression of her disease which has now matastisized to the bones.  Evidently the Kellers disagree not so much with her choices, but the fact that she publicizes them.  I find this reprehensible.  Who are they to judge how Ms. Adams or anyone deals with their disease?  Did they speak out about Valerie Harper who was on every talk show 24/7 when she got her diagnosis?  I think everyone has a right to their opinion, but why criticize someone who is doing their best to survive a bad situation.

Notice I have not used the words "battle" or "fight", nor does Ms. Adams.  In response to Keller's characterization of Adams' reaction to her cancer treatment as a 'military campaign', her father a retired surgeon writes "She doesn't even like the word battle."  "She says the true heroes are in the armed forces and should be honored for their bravery.  They chose to do what they do but the people with cancer haven't chosen their life."

Ms. Adams is 44 years old and has three young children.  Of course she wants to live as long as possible and to that end is seeking the most aggressive forms of treatment.  I am 76 years old.  I have chosen to forego any kind of treatment.  I have always been opposed to chemotherapy and the more I hear and read about it, the more sure I am that I've made the right decision FOR ME.  Perhaps if I were 44 or even 54 I would have done something different.  My point is, we all have to do what is right for us, and we should not judge anyone's decision to do otherwise.

Putting your thoughts and feelings in writing, whether for yourself or for the general population, is a form of therapy.  Sometimes it is the very act of getting the words on paper that can help in the process of coping with any situation.  

I applaud Ms. Adams for her blogging and tweeting.  I say anything that helps you get through the day.  Anything that makes you feel better, and who knows she may be helping someone else who finds themself in a similar situation.  And I think I'm going to look for her blog and follow her on Twitter and tell her just that!