When I first started down the cancer road, I was consumed with just getting through it--making it to appointments, working, managing the demands of everyday home life; just the usual stuff with the added inconvenience of cancer in the mix. Looking up medical information on line was overwhelming and exhausting--conflicting information and not enough detail for me. I gave it up or just didn't have time or energy for it...don't really remember which.
When I came out on the other side of treatments, alive and (fairly) well, I figured out I needed to deal with NOT having cancer. I thought more about it later than I did during the low points of the experience. I started this blog around that time--mostly because there was very little information or personal experience on the web specific to the treatment, the emotions, the survival of vaginal cancer patients. I had a deep desire to put my story out there to help others who were in the same boat-- I wanted to provide real life, down to earth information that someone out there could relate to; wanted to be able to help by providing some insights into what to expect. Digging into this personal side of cancer, specifically vaginal cancer, led me to the blog of another vaginal cancer fighter. I've been reading her blog ever since. Carol had neuro endocrine small cell cancer of the vagina which spread to her lungs, liver, lymph nodes and bones. She also had probably the best sense of humor found in a cancer patient--ever. I don't know her personally; just know that her blog was a delight to read. A great outlook on life (and death), a pretty funny family along for the ride, and an ability to see light and beauty in her darkest days. Living life and crossing things off the bucket list to the end.
Rest in peace Carol, and thanks for your words.
http://confessionsofacancerpatient.blogspot.com/
