Two years ago, the phone rang here at my house. It was Jean, my surgeon’s nurse, calling to give me the results of the biopsy of the removed breast tissues and lymph nodes taken during my mastectomy.
No cancer. “The report is very, very, very good!” she had said, leaving the details for my surgeon to share with me. It’s impossible to put into words the sense of relief I felt. In a moment it was like I could breath again. No chemo.
After the relief came gratitude. I had been so fortunate along this road called cancer. No radiation. No chemo. Only a few lymph nodes removed – low risk of developing lympedema in my right arm.
I relished the calm that washed over me and the moments of celebration…
Chugging Train
By Vicki L. Flaherty
Finally, the train has stopped.
I’m clean — no cancer.
Nothing suspicious
That can be seen or detected.
At least for now…
It’s OK to celebrate this moment.
But, the engine was meant to move —
and so it begins again, chugging slowly forward.
At this juncture, there are questions
About prevention, recurrence.
What to do? How to live with the odds?
No conclusive answers.
The engine was meant to move —
and so it begins again, chugging slowly forward.
Navigating the course ahead
It’s up to me to decide:
Do I take the medication?
What tradeoff s, given the benefits and risks?
Choices, decisions — the signals along the journey.
The engine was meant to move —
and so it begins again, chugging slowly forward.
A related post is Waiting Game.
Beautiful poem Vicki. A good friend of mine is battling cancer right now, melanoma, and he is struggling with those same questions. I’ve shared with him many of your posts. Thank you for the manner in which you describe your journey with such beautiful words.
Carol, I am holding you and your friend in my heart…I am honored that you are sharing with him and hope that he finds a message of comfort and hope in them.
Thank you Vicki… 🙂
Vicki,
So happy for you- not just for the medical news but for the great gift you give to yourself and to all of us- the gift of gratitude. The sure understanding that each moment is a precious gift and a fresh start.
Tom
Thank you, Tom. It’s been so amazing to me the way relieving my own fear and pain seems to help others with theirs. We are all truly connected in some mysterious way.
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