I'm fairly sure it should just be called "The Hate Disease"
So I have kind of resolved myself to be tested for every medical issue that comes into my life. I am almost a hypochondriac. If I cannot make myself go to sleep in any condition because ofan illness, I usually resort to the ER for treatment, because honestly, I am REALLY cranky when I am ill, and even crankier when I am tired, and both make me one huge ball of angry.
I will start colonoscopies at age 30. I will start mammograms as soon as insurance will allow them. I will continue to request yearly blood work with my physical, even if it is not required.
So here's the long and short of it: I will, someday, more than likely, get cancer. This does not bother me. It makes me vigilant and determined to find it before it really finds me.
My logic? On my mother's side, there are several documented cases of colon cancer, a case of prostate cancer, some other form of cancer (I am not sure what kind), etc. Most (if not all) of these cases resulted in the death of the afflicted person. To be fair, I do have a few healthy relatives on that side (thank God). However, the cancer I am speaking of is immediate family, not distant.
On my father's side, we have all sorts of issues. Skin cancers, heart problems galore, and some other things I am sure will eventually be inherited (my great-grandmother had Alzheimer's, but lived well into her 90's!).
I am not hoping to get sick, nor am I particularly trying. I am losing weight, I haven't smoked in over two years, and I know that I have an excellent support network should things turn ugly.
Mostly I am just frustrated. I have known so many people with some variant of cancer that it's a bit terrifying. Not just in my family, but friends, colleagues, relatives of friends, etc.
~~~~~~~~
My firm belief is that everything happens for a reason. And I also do not believe in mistakes; I would not do anything in life over again, no matter how small.
I did once, however, tell John a secret. That if I could ever do one thing over in the entirety of history, I would have my mother not get cancer.
I am sure that today I am not alone.
I will start colonoscopies at age 30. I will start mammograms as soon as insurance will allow them. I will continue to request yearly blood work with my physical, even if it is not required.
So here's the long and short of it: I will, someday, more than likely, get cancer. This does not bother me. It makes me vigilant and determined to find it before it really finds me.
My logic? On my mother's side, there are several documented cases of colon cancer, a case of prostate cancer, some other form of cancer (I am not sure what kind), etc. Most (if not all) of these cases resulted in the death of the afflicted person. To be fair, I do have a few healthy relatives on that side (thank God). However, the cancer I am speaking of is immediate family, not distant.
On my father's side, we have all sorts of issues. Skin cancers, heart problems galore, and some other things I am sure will eventually be inherited (my great-grandmother had Alzheimer's, but lived well into her 90's!).
I am not hoping to get sick, nor am I particularly trying. I am losing weight, I haven't smoked in over two years, and I know that I have an excellent support network should things turn ugly.
Mostly I am just frustrated. I have known so many people with some variant of cancer that it's a bit terrifying. Not just in my family, but friends, colleagues, relatives of friends, etc.
~~~~~~~~
My firm belief is that everything happens for a reason. And I also do not believe in mistakes; I would not do anything in life over again, no matter how small.
I did once, however, tell John a secret. That if I could ever do one thing over in the entirety of history, I would have my mother not get cancer.
I am sure that today I am not alone.