Leroy Sievers, producer, reporter, podcaster, lecturer, Emmy winner, all around information guy tried to get up yesterday morning and wasn't strong enough to do it. But when he wrote about the situation it wasn't the increasing pain from cancer that was his focus. It was the unexpected weakness. Leroy says
"Weakness can be a little scary. Especially when you're not used to it, or you don't expect it."
Today Leroy's in the hospital having tests. Tests aren't unexpected with cancer but this round of tests, stemming from the unremitting pain and sudden weakness, are a surprise too.
The unexpected may be the scariest part of life in general and of Cancer in particular.
I have had some surprises too. And I totally did not expect to see the numbers I saw on Monday, saying I had about the same chance of having cancer recur sometime in the next ten years (red area on top line of the graph shown here) as I had of being totally cancer free in ten years (green area on the top line of the chart).
If I'd have had any clue in advance that what I'd be seeing would be grim I would not have been a basket case Monday night or a washed out noodle napping in bed on and off yesterday and today.
OK, I recognize that we cant predict the future and we can't prepare for every possibility. But my view is that we can communicate what various situations we find ourselves in are like and that can serve the greater good.
It's the least we can do for someone who might be in that place in the future. If you know something about cancer or the processes surrounding it because one of us shared that information, something similar might not throw you for a loop if it happens to you or someone close to you.
Giving you a peek into my reactions to what's going on here is one of the things I can do that could perhaps help someone else not encounter such a case of *the Unexpecteds*. It may not always be pretty ; but it's honest.
And I'll keep sending Leroy my prayers and positive wishes too. And will continue to follow the story of his journey
Link to Leroy's Blog: My Cancer
Susan, I see the green line as being longer than the red line. You WILL be cancer-free in the next 10 years.
Posted by: christine | Feb 08, 2008 at 01:52 PM