Ten Commandments for Cancer Survival

The Ten Commandments for Cancer Survival

1.Thou shalt regard the word, "Cancer', as exactly that: a word.
Nothing more, nothing less. For its original meaning has changed mightily over
the years, as have such words as Smallpox, TB, and Polio, all once dreaded
ailments, now non-existent as maladies. And thus,
too, shalt go thy Cancer. The answer shall come to those who shall be
present to hear it. Be present to hear it when it comes.

2. Thou shalt love thy chemotherapy, thy radiation, and thy other
treatments even as thyself, for they are thy friends and champions.
Although they may exact a toll for their endeavors, they are oft most
generous in the favors they bestow.

3. Thou shalt participate fully in thy recovery. Thou shalt learn all
the details of thy ailment, its diagnosis, its prognosis, its treatments,
conventional and alternative. Thou shalt discuss them openly and
candidly with thy oncologist and shalt question all thou do not comprehend.
Then, thou shalt cooperate intelligently, and knowledgeably with thy doctor.

4. Thou shalt regard thy ailment as a temporary detour in thy life and
shalt plan thy future as though this detour had not occurred. Thou shalt
never, at no time, nohow, regard thy temporary ailment as permanent. Thou shalt
set long-term goals for thyself. For thou will verily recover and your believing so will contribute mightily to thy recovery.

5. Thou shalt express thy feelings candidly and openly to thy loved
ones for they, too, are stricken. Thou shalt comfort and reassure them for they,
too, needest comforting and reassurance, even as thou doest.

6. Thou shalt be a comfort to thy fellow-cancerites, providing
knowledge, encouragement, understanding and love. You shalt give them hope where
there may be none, for only in hope lies their salvation. And by doing so,
thou providest comfort for thyself, as well.

7. Thou shalt never relinquish hope, no matter how thou may feelest at
that moment, for thou knowest, in the deep recesses of thy heart, that your
discouragement is but fleeting and that a better day awaits thee,
perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after tomorrow.

8. Thou shalt not regard thy ailment as the sum total of thy life but
as merely a part of it. Fill your life with other diversions, be they
mundane, daring, altruistic, or merely amusing. To fill your life with your
ailment is to surrender to it.

9. Thou shalt maintain, at all times and in all circumstances, thy
sense of humor, for laughter lightens thy heart and hastens thy recovery. This
is not an easy task, sometimes seemingly impossible, but it is a goal well
worth the endeavor.

10. Thou shalt have enduring and unassailable faith, whether thy faith
be in a Supreme Being, in Medical Science, in Thy Future, in Thyself, or in
Whatever. Steadfastly sustain thy faith for it shall sustain thee.