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Good morning.

She said to me, ‘I was 36.  Without a care in the world.  Just getting on with my life.  And suddenly they told me that I had cancer.  And it was serious’

I’ve had that experience too.  They’ve got better at telling you but it’s still difficult.  One of those moments you just never forget.  And the start of a journey of treatment surrounded by immensely kind, supportive and caring people – a journey in which you become part of the community of all the other people who are having the same experience.  I’m thinking at present about life’s changes and adjustments.  And of course this is another one.

One moment you are relatively care free.  You are making long term plans.  The next moment the horizons have dramatically shrunk.  You live from one treatment to the next and from one doctor’s appointment to the next.  And you are looking for the resources – spiritual resources as well as physical and medical resources – to enable you to cope with that.  For people who are used to being able to exercise autonomy in their lives, it is a real challenge. 

I gladly carry the label ‘cancer survivor’.  But it’s always there in the back of your mind.  And what you lose is the carefree sense of yourself as a healthy person. You will be forever a person who has had cancer.  But you gain as well.  Once you’ve been there you no longer take anything for granted – you learn to live hopefully and well each and every day.

Father

Be with those who will hear difficult news today

And with those who will speak it

Travel with them on the journey

Bring healing, peace and love

Amen.