Can-cer-vive!

Yesterday was a really really big day for me……it was my 20th Anniversary of being Cancer Free. In a good way it was an odd day too as life has long settled so much back into “normal” that it really just became another day, and one without fanfare.…and that’s kind of cool.

Often songs become the soundtrack of your life. In mine, there are hundreds. But for my cancer journey there are three that come to mind, one for each phase of the trip………”Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor during the diagnosis and testing phase, “Overcomer” by Mandisa during the physically brutal treatment phase,  and “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John, well, for the rest of my life.

You see, 20 years ago I began and won my battle with cancer with the singular determination that this then 40 year old guy with my Wife and three kids under 12 would be around for the long haul and that life would return to normal one day for those around me. It was that mindset, that determination, that “Eye of the Tiger” approach that pushed and sometimes dragged me through the radical surgery, weeks of radiation, and years of follow up scans and worry. Now, each year that goes by I look back and shed fewer and fewer tears at the worst of those memories that remain with survivors daily in ways only we can know. I made it through the maelstrom and was determined to be that “Overcomer.”

And now “I’m Still Standing” after all these years. Sure, I have daily thoughts of the darkest of days, but I choose to look at the physical impact of the surgery, the scars, and treatment markers not as wounds, but instead as badges of victory over an enemy that came to take my life and lost. But now 20 years later, as survivors you worry about possible secondary recurrences from treatment side effects, wonder why you beat the disease and others didn’t, and frankly you have a tough time remembering life without Cancer or being a Survivor.

And this brings me to the supporters. Some are silent, some vocal and swinging for you when you can’t. Family, friends, people you remember forever, co-workers too (several of you reading this in fact who were there at work stepping in to support me and pick-up the slack when I could not some days), and others who sort of fall into that group of unknown strangers with the spirit of mercy who were there with just a smile, an embrace, a kind word, or even just “that look” or a small tear, since they did not know what to say. The Dr’s, Nurses, Radiation or Chemo therapists, and all their teams, the list goes on. These are all the true heroes of the Cancer journey, the angels of mercy, and I can’t thank them all enough, and it brings me to my final point.

We have over 5,000 people in this country alone diagnosed with Cancer each day. 5,000 people, family, friends, whose worlds come to the most abrupt halt with the delivery of those three words ….”…..you have Cancer.” Be thankful if you’ve never been there as the shock is so real, the fear so primal, and the need for support so key to taking on the battle.

So on the 20th anniversary of my eye to eye mortal combat with this evil adversary do me a favor. Reach out to someone you know in the middle of their fight, or someone you don’t really know but have heard is going through this. Drop a line to someone who lost someone to Cancer to just check in with them to see how they’re doing. Check with your Church, or local social organizations to see how you can help them provide support for cancer patients who are without much support. And of course, if you have the means, make a donation to one of the many many Cancer Research and Patient Support, and Caregiver Support groups. Current statistics show that nearly 40% of all Americans will be diagnosed with some form of Cancer in their lifetime. Fact of the matter is that whether you get it or not we will all be affected by it in one way or another. Take the time now to lend support in any way that works for you. Cancer patients and their supporters need the help more than you know.

Oh yeah, and if you have the time, punch in those three songs I listed above into your favorite music device and think about all that you can do to become part of the soundtrack of someone else’s fight and ultimate victory.

The Testicular Cancer Research Center ....... https://thetcrc.org/about_us_donate.html

Testicular Cancer Society........ https://testicularcancersociety.org/

Great educational website ....https://www.checkemlads.com/

#testicularcancer

#americancancersociety

#cancersurvivor

#cancersupport