Crazy to have survivor's guilt when I have cancer. But I do.
In the waiting room at the Moores Cancer Center, when I see other patients who
have lost hair, I feel something. I am afraid to feel gratitude. Certainly
don't want to feel pity. So I feel guilt instead. The safe, self sacrificing
emotion to feel. Survivor’s guilt. Stupid? Natural? Self defensive? Self defeating?
What then, should I feel? Thankful. Gratitude, really. Selfish emotions they
may be, but real, and a lot more positively helpful for my own being.
So the tan is coming along nicely. Radiation therapy is
almost over. Life has pretty much returned to normal. Rather, the lost fat has returned, like it or not. The surge has ebbed.
Alert levels back to normal. No real symptoms from the radiation except a
slight obvious redness in the area, the tan.
Those zaps only last about 30 seconds each, done on 2 sides. 3 weeks of 'regular' therapy, then 1 week of 'boost' to only the area where lumpy once called home. I had felt
nauseous once, a few minutes after the zaps, but the doctor said it could have
been caused by my breathing movement and the beam could have singed my liver.
Otherwise, no fatigue, and I’ve only used the calendula cream twice. Too
sticky. A week from now, I’ll start on the tamoxifen pills as recommended.
I can’t end this without extending my gratitude to all
family and friends who have expressed support via prayers, novenas, texts,
emails, cards, meals, calls, thoughts, chats, company, foodie partners in
crime, and travel partners in crime. And apologies to family and friends who have not
been told any of this. I suppose I wanted to keep it under wraps where possible. No reason to cause unnecessary alarm or make the news. I
guess I share that Amish trait described by Kevin Kelly.