4 Years, and NED (no evidence of disease)

This past summer I celebrated my 4th cancerversary since I was diagnosed.

I did not have a clear idea what to write about so I didn't post, but this past weekend I was clearing out some old papers and got my idea. As usual, if you want to know the story, let me take you back to June of 2011.

I digress, back to my old papers. It is surprising to me that even after 4 years, just how emotional I got. As I was looking through my appointment log, information about treatment choices, books and pamphlets about eating well during cancer treatment, Cancer 101, Preventing Lymphedema...and more, the emotions just washed over me. Here is my appointment book from the first weeks.

At the end of the day, I've had 4 years, and I am working on having more joy in my life and bringing joy to others.

I wanted to end on a poem printed on the cover of the Patient Handbook, entitled "What Cancer Cannot Do":

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the Spirit.

By Anonymous

In my opinion it cannot do these things unless you allow it to. It is a constant struggle to not let cancer take more than it already has.

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