Cancer

My mom was diagnosed with different types of cancers over the years. Since then, it's been a long battle with numerous surgeries, therapies and everything else that comes along with the disease. Her cancer seemingly returned again (in her right lung) and yet again, she grounds herself with indomitable strength and optimism. Through it all, my mom has been a shining light of inspiration and hope. This is my letter to her and to others out there in her situation that continue to hold the light and face their adversity head on. 

Mom, this is for you....

 

Dear mom,

On this upcoming mother’s day I’d like to take time to express my gratitude for all that you have taught me through the years. The last decade or so has brought a lot of change to our family and through it all you’ve been a shining light of inspiration as you face whatever comes your way with grace and courage. I know it is not always easy, but your fighting spirit and uplifting attitude has carried not only you, but our entire family as well. I don’t think you give yourself enough credit for your strength and it is with this letter that I try to illuminate your shining spirit for all to see.

Frankly, I don’t know how you’ve done it, how you’ve been so strong through it all. 

Perhaps you feel like you have no other choice. 

Given the options, I thinkyour whole life was not taking the easy options but you have seen to face life head-on.

I have seen it with us kids, your marriage and divorce from my dad, taking on a new country deep in your fifties and facing cancer and all the other sicknesses you have had to deal with.

I look at your Facebook photo's of your garden and I know that you have no labour help and thus you garden at 74 on your knees and with a cane,a s you cannot work anymore.

You are so quiet about it all (well, you’ve never really been quiet, but you know what I mean!) and we've never really talked about it. It’s like, hmm, yeah, I’ve got cancer, so? Wow! You realized that there was more life out there for you and although it’s been tough, you’ve done your best to live it as fully as you can.

Besides all that, I want to let you know that I love you very much. Thank you for being you and for bringing me into this crazy-ass world. Thank you for letting me make mistakes and being there to support me through my big “uh oh” moments and for the “yay” moments too. 

 

Thanks for not being as hard on me as I am on myself. I truly appreciate all you have done and it has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for your good advice and giving me the freedom to take life by the horns and live it the way I want to, not the way everyone else thinks I should.

Thank you for the good times, bad times, hard times and fun times. 

Thank you for every breath, every moment, every hug, every tear, every kiss, every smile, everything. They’ve all made me the woman I am today and I hope I make you proud.

 I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but thank you for that too.

Thanks for your fiery light, that is never willing to give up

Mom, I love you.

Your daughter,

Judy

Defining Cancer

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.
Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in basal cells of the skin is called basal cell carcinoma.
Cancer types can be grouped into broader categories. The main categories of cancer include:

• Carcinoma - cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
• Sarcoma - cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
• Leukemia - cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
• Lymphoma and myeloma - cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
• Central nervous system cancers - cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

• Origins of Cancer

  All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it's helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells.
  The body is made up of many types of cells. These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.
  However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. The genetic material (DNA) of a cell can become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division. When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumor's.
  
  
  
  
  Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be benign or malignant.
• Benign tumors aren't cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
• Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.

Some cancers do not form tumors. For example, leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.