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Cancer Strikes Again

Recently, when I was starting to write the rough draft of a new blog, I got interrupted by an alarming phone call. To make a long story short I found out that my dad has had part of a cyst removed from his bladder and that they found two different types of cancer cells. In addition to that, more extensive testing is required due to the previous test…

Endure Ruthless Pain

Originally posted on Cancer: The Upside:
This aggressive fast-growing cancer presented itself with cold-like symptoms, but this was only the beginning of what was to come. ?As the tumor grew bigger, it began to affect my breathing which?required me to be?placed?on oxygen. ?Hereafter,?it felt like?the tumor?was?hammering?me internally. ?It was?as if I had become a boxer…

The Stairway of Life

Solitude

During my cancer battle, when my chemo regime was changed to be administered over the course of five days, I would start to feel weaker every day, but nothing compared to the days following that week.  When my mom, who was my caregiver, would ask me how do you feel?  I did not know how…

Checkout Line

Having been diagnosed with cancer in my twenties, I was faced with the harsh reality that death is an inventible consequence of being alive.  Ever since one of my relatives passed away when I was very young, I learned that death was going to happen to all of us one day.  I mean in my mind I saw it as if we are all in the “checkout line “of life just waiting…

Mysterious Change

Originally posted on Cancer: The Upside:
After my first chemo treatment, I was discharged from the hospital and given an appointment at a cancer treatment center for my second chemo round. ?My appointment was scheduled in two weeks?therefore,?allowing my body enough time to physically recover in order to travel out of town for?my next treatment.??I…

Life or Death

Originally posted on Cancer: The Upside:
As I embarked in my long, strenuous battle with cancer, I frequently experienced life or death decisions. From the onset, this was the consensus. Each of the proposed treatment options offered to me could have resulted in a life or death sentence. I can’t express how devastated I felt…

Fight: It’s Your Life

Originally posted on Cancer: The Upside:
Don’t let a diagnosis dictate your outcome, even when the tests results show a narrow percentage of survival. ?For me,?I had a lot of fight in me to continue to live. ?This was my life, it was now or never, I had to stand up against this illness. ?Granted,…

Fear of the Unknown

Through the years I have come to the realization that not everyone will comprehend someone else’s cancer journey and that is alright. I mean I don’t think I really understood it myself until I lived through it.  Of course, anyone can form conclusions and have opinions on the matter but like most things in life we don’t fully comprehend the magnitude of something…

Getting a Tattoo

Originally posted on Cancer: The Upside:
Exciting days were forthcoming, one last treatment of chemo and I was done. ?My mind could not grasp the idea of reaching this great milestone in my cancer journey. ?Tough days were behind me and?a?new?uncharted?season?was?upon me. ?Tired of the way things had been, I was looking forward to a…