I just got an email from an old friend who has been battling a malignant cancer for quite a while. She has discontinued treatment in favor of the most peaceful end possible. This decision took great courage and I only hope that she will find peace with family and friends. We met in 1950, and have been in contact off and on since. We had laughs together and some interesting times, but went our own ways in 1958.A year or so ago I wrote an essay about doing the “hardest thing I ever did”, and I will add this to the list. I hate that she didn’t get the therapy needed to reverse the disease. I hate that medicine can’t get to all cancers in time. I just hate all of it.
She is a good woman with core religious beliefs, and will go to her heaven when the time comes. She won’t go kicking and screaming either. She will go with dignity and with a smile. She will be an example for us all.
Damn you Cancer. Damn you.
Image: http://www.nature.org/idc/groups/webcontent/@photopublic/documents/media/prd_023218.jpg
Sorry to hear about your friend. Unfortunately, cancer will be with us forever. For every step forward in the field of cancer biology we take 2 steps back. The enormous retraction papers from top journals and the need/greed for the spotlight has taken human nature at its best. As long there is profit to be made there will never be a cure. Remember, the treatment is what makes money and not the cure, and sadly the funding agencies such as pharmaceutical companies don't want cures... Science and technology is good enough to make that leap, but unfortunately human factor is what is keeping us in the dark, and it looks to be the case for a very, very, very long time. It is a sad truth.
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