Six Time Survivor
I have been fighting cancer since 1997 when I was
first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I am now a six time
survivor having had my original cancer diagnosis, four recurrences and
last year a secondary cancer, renal cell carcinoma.
How
has cancer affected me? Well, it has taught me a lot. It has taught me
to research my cancer to learn about new treatment options, to ask my
doctors about everything no matter how trivial and to be my own
advocate.
It has taught me
what it’s like to feel guilty, depressed, anxious, worried and sick.
Cancer has also taught me to feel great sadness when watching the very
young and very old go through difficult cancer treatments.
Cancer
has taught me how lucky I am, compared to others with this disease. For
the most part, I have been able to work, take trips and do things that I
enjoy. I feel lucky that because of my outgoing personality, I can help
others around me by talking freely and opening about cancer and how I
cope. People tell me that I encourage them in dealing with their own
illness or problems.
Cancer
has taught me about the importance of family and friends and how much it
means to have people who care about you. Whatever would I do without
them?
But most importantly,
cancer has taught me that the vow, 'in sickness and in health' is a
tremendous commitment from a spouse. My husband has never wavered in his
caregiving during this journey that we have been taking. He truly is my
rock. After almost ten years of dealing with this disease, my husband,
not cancer, has taught me my most valuable lesson – take one day at a
time.
Mimi Lipson is a amateur photographer. She
says, “Nature has always offered me a sense of calmness and serenity.
This has been especially true since my cancer diagnosis. I hope that
through my photographs, other cancer patients and caregivers will
experience that same calmness and serenity.”