My name is Frank. I’m a cancer survivor. I’m also living with cancer…
And unless there’s a miracle on the horizon or something else gets me first, cancer is likely to make my life unlivable in the not-too-distant future.
What you can expect
This blog is not a daily journal. Neither is a place to find medical or legal advice. It’s a window into the underworld of being an advanced cancer patient–shared in the hope that doing so might help other patients, their caregivers, and loved ones avoid so much unnecessary suffering. I hope, too, that medical professionals might lurk here and expand their view of what truly humane health care might become someday.
But be prepared.
This is not going to be some feel-good pep talk with a happy ending.
It’s a story of physical pain and emotional distress… of countless needle sticks, biopsies, and invasive procedures… surgeries, chemotherapies, and radiation treatments… tests, tests, and more tests… waiting, waiting, and more waiting… false negatives and false positives… harsh medications and unwelcome side effects… unexpected complications and unpredicted crises.
It’s a saga of never-ending stress and anxiety… of difficult decisions and difficult conversations… frustrations, disappointments, and loneliness… mindless and heartless bureaucracy… insensitive things that people say and do… traumas and recoveries… grief, disability, and reinvention… precious time and energy lost forever.
But in the midst of all these challenges are stories of real-life angels, hope, and love… and sometimes even moments of pure and indescribable joy.
I don’t know how my journey will unfold, but I invite you to walk with me for a while–with the prayer that we can discover the courage to stand tall, find some peace, and at the very least help each other to feel less alone.