When Cancer Is Old News...

...was the title of one of Leroy's recent blogs. I find him, and his contributors, to be thought provoking -- as I'm sure you can tell from some of our topics.

I'm not sure where we are with regard to the age of our cancer news -- technically six months last week. We seem to have things in common with some of the other contributors and other things to look forward to; here are some of their insights:

--Laurel M Jones:

In the beginning of my illness back in March of 2006, I started writing an email update to family and interested friends. I had a horrible cough and it was easier than talking to people.

For a while I wrote every few days. I was at home for months dealing with a very harsh chemo regime and people wanted to know exactly what symptoms and side effects I was having. I tried to write with humor and creativity. It was both cathartic and gave me something to do with my time.

For now that need has changed. I'm much more to the point now. The longer I live with this disease and all of it's ups and downs, the less often I want to write about the day to day details.

I'm more concerned with living my life rather than documenting it.

Folks write about emails and blogs as expedient ways to disseminate information. Despite the number of related and interesting cancer blogs around, we comment about missing a more dynamic means of dialoguing within the various blog communities. My guess is that it's in the offing, somewhere *shrugs*

For us, "the sCenario" began as a way to help remember dates, times, places and people, as well as a way to convey information to those wanting it. As our situation began to settle, daily news-blasts weren't forthcoming and an alternative journal, much of it gardening, began to evolve.

Somewhere between the two is where I am now. The gardens' journals and records suffered during the past four years because of time constraints put on us doing 24/7 ElderCare. The blog has provided us with some good catching up in that regard.

In the meantime, I'm struck by Laurel's last line, above. I don't see the two as being mutually exclusive. *blinks*

-- Lynn:

I agree that the novelty has worn off not just for me but for others. The cards I used to get daily have dwindled. The prepared foods have not come in months. I don't mind. I know everyone still cares but life goes on.

Life goes on, indeed!
Let us know how yours is going; we've shown you ours, ya know!

-- Yvette:

Hi Leroy et al..
It's true that it does become old news..until you see someone or talk to someone out of the blue. An old college friend contacted me via email this week after 15 years. I debated on whether or not to tell her about the cancer but really it has unfortunately been a dominating presence in my life for the last year. How much to you say? how many details? do you say that you have been contemplating your mortality at 39? how honest are you? I told her some basics and I haven't heard back yet.. sometimes even a little bit it too much for people...

This is the newest arena for me.

I don't look 'cancer-sick.' My high-blood-pressure-red cheeks and world's longest comb-over find no one guessing we have a dx. I only huff and puff when pushing my walk or my gardening. If you hadn't been told, I'm not sure you'd guess our Stage and Type.

We can't remember who knows and who doesn't. We haven't been in the habit of disclosing to strangers, but this town and this town's hospital run some interesting parallels and perpendiculars. Our family and friends are pretty extended, sometimes overlapping, circles.

Then there are the new groups of people we meet in various waiting rooms and doctors offices where confidentiality is primarily among those of us sitting there. "Good Morning Mr. Hill! We're ready for you, now! Can you state your full name, please?"

"George Hill." George knows I have cancer; I know George has cancer. We don't know the particulars beyond that. I know that George turned 53 last Wednesday... I know lots more about him than he knows about me. Confidentiality, indeed!

Some innocent mis-speaks we all have while interacting around the cancer experiences are being collected on another blog that I read. I'll record some to share. *makes note*

--Leroy:

These days, it doesn't seem to come up so much. Certainly just about everyone I know now knows that I'm sick. There are times, in conversations with strangers, when I have to ask myself whether to tell. But most of the time, I don't say anything.

These days, the cancer feels like old news. It's just part of my life. If someone asks me how I am, unless they specifically ask about my health, I usually start talking about other things.

I'm still on the fence, here...

While not shy about talking about cancer, I am tiring of talking about cancer.

On the one hand, there's the blog; on the other hand it's not a substitute for personal interaction.

On the one hand, there are people who are avoiding me now that I'm 'sick,' on the other hand, amazing people are coming from unbelievable places to offer guidance and support.

*claps the one hand on top of the other hand*

Mostly I think there are plenty more dire and interesting things happening around us than our cancer, right now. How lucky for us all!

In the meantime, I'm loving that I can be sharing life with my soulmate.
I'm reading again. I'm gardening again. I'm writing again.

And I hope to be doing that when _that's_ old news, too.

Howz by youz??