7 ‘hard’ life lessons I learned from ‘almost dying’ of cancer
In 2002, after work, I twisted my hip that left my office. He didn’t stop suffering for months, but I mostly ignored it. After a year and worse, I finally saw my doctor.
When I returned for MRI results, he closed the door of the review room, sat directly in front of me, and said professionally, “There is a lesion on your hip.”
“A lesion?” I said. “Do you mean a tumor?”
“Yes,” he said.
I was 38 years old, in pursuit of a promising career in journalism, married a woman I love and a 7 -month -old girl for the first time. And with this single syllable, a cured blood cancer called multiple myeloma was diagnosed and I was told that I stayed for 18 months to live.
However, thanks to new treatments for my disease developed since then, this was before 20 years. It is not a stretch to say that I am a medical miracle. Cancer is not something I want to anyone, but at the same time to die almost to me to live a happy, meaningful and regretful life on how to live some of the hard-deeds.
1. If you don’t like your life, what is the meaning of living?
A question that I have frequently asked since I got sick is, I don’t change and change our way of eating and exercise. The answer is that I don’t try to take better care of myself without being diagnosed, but just to some extent.
I don’t eat food as much as it used to be and Go to the gym as often as possible. But I still use a mobile phone, I stand in front of the microwave, and sometimes I don’t eat too much or don’t get out of my couch for a few days at a time.
2. You can handle more than you think.
I’ve had four rounds of radiation therapy since I was diagnosed. I had a large number of serious bone pain, chronic insomnia and recurrent infections that weaken gastrointestinal problems.
If you count the lesions in my skull and the loss of emotions in my feet, the cancer literally impressed me from head to toe. When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t think I could rule such a scary challenge.
I know I can do it after you survive.
3. People, most of them are already good.
This is especially true for doctors and nurses. I made the doctors see me on Saturdays at their own time and I get my calls at 2 o’clock and held my hands through violent nausea and vomiting.
The entire medical organization took me and millions of cancer patients and others at risk to keep alive and good during Covid epidemic. Simply put, heroes.
4. If you have anything you want to do, do it now.
Have you heard the term “front kastiye”? The opposite of postponement. Instead of not being able to do a job in advance, you will be forced to do it as soon as possible.
I’ve been a religious front protection since I was diagnosed. You never know how much time it has. If something is important to you, don’t wait. There is this!
5. A good relationship is worth fighting even if it goes bad for a while.
Some people will tell you that cancer either breaks down a relationship or brings couples closer to each other. He did both for me and my wife Didi. The stress of my illness created me as a patient and as the only parent and the only parent, and he created an ice storm between us.
In the end, the cancer forced us to face our problems and do our best to handle them. It was a long, difficult and tiring process. For years, individual and couples therapy progressed backwards as they progressed. But finally brought us together.
6. If you know someone who is sick, lend them a hand.
Shortly after the diagnosis was made, several people told me stories about multi -myeloma and died friends. A friend of mine told me what I had experienced, and then he continued to tell me about the fear of 48 -hour skin cancer, which turned out to be nothing. Many people said I would “know” that I would be good.
The truth is that a simple expression of temperature or sympathy was the best response. A colleague, “You’re a poor man. I’m sorry.” He said. That was true.
My best friend from childhood sent me a letter. Finally, he wrote, “You are my eldest friend.” I don’t know why this has so many power, but I’ve been drowned in tears since I found out that I had cancer for the first time.
7. Application acceptance.
Perhaps the biggest lesson I have learned from being sick is to accept everything it brings to my way.
Sometimes the fish bites, sometimes they are not. Sometimes the cards fall on your way, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you are sick, sometimes good. It may not be the secret of human happiness, but it is probably as close as we can.
2003 in the book “A mathematician plays the stock market“Temple University Professor of Mathematics and philosopher John Allen Paulos said:” Uncertainty is the only certainty that exists, and to know how to experience insecurity is the only security. “
Jonathan Gluck He is a writer and editor in the New York Times and Washington Post. He has been the New York Magazine Assistant Editor for 10 years and then worked as Vogue’s executive editor. His work was known for more than one National Magazine Award. That author “An exercise in uncertainty: memory of illness and hope. “
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