The Big C
Cancer and other serious illness is something not unknown in our family, I lost the cousin I grew up with closest in age to me at 14, and from my experiences with my grandparents passing on since this time, have to face the fact that I have real problems dealing with people who are seriously ill.
Recently one my closest friend's was diagnosed with stomach cancer and is about to have it removed, and start chemo. This has hit hard for a couple of reasons. He is the first person in my group of friends to come down with something like this, and he is also one the cleanest living people I know, never smoked nor drank much more than a milky Baileys cocktail at new year.
I often wonder whether having some sort of firm beliefs around religion and the afterlife and all that guff might help me deal better with these things, but for now I'm more concerned that my friend is doing the right thing for his health, and hope he will become more communicative on how he is doing, as hope that the sneaking suspicion I have of a fatalistic attitude towards it is unfounded.
Recently one my closest friend's was diagnosed with stomach cancer and is about to have it removed, and start chemo. This has hit hard for a couple of reasons. He is the first person in my group of friends to come down with something like this, and he is also one the cleanest living people I know, never smoked nor drank much more than a milky Baileys cocktail at new year.
I often wonder whether having some sort of firm beliefs around religion and the afterlife and all that guff might help me deal better with these things, but for now I'm more concerned that my friend is doing the right thing for his health, and hope he will become more communicative on how he is doing, as hope that the sneaking suspicion I have of a fatalistic attitude towards it is unfounded.