The point of the beast...my thoughts

KathiM
KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
You know I refer to the beast cancer as a terrorist, well,
Hum, just read part of Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons'. There was a discussion about what terrorism hopes to accomplish: A loss of faith. In whatever it is attacking.
With cancer, Faith in your body. Faith in your treatment. Faith in whatever higher power you believe in.

The beast will NEVER win, as far as I am concerned, because I will always keep my faith in myself....

Hugs, Kathi

Comments

  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #2
    Hi Kathy,

    Your post made me think of that schoolyard taunt, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."

    The older and wiser I become I realize that words are indeed very powerful. Any word when spoken or thought of conjures up a certain feeling - a good feeling or a bad feeling. Scientists over the last several years are discovering that thoughts and feelings have very direct physical responses, whereby brain chemicals are released, muscles contract or relax, etc.

    The reality is cancer is basically a cellular malfunction. It has no personality, nor does it have a specific willful agenda. So I wonder if we use words like beast or terrorist, by the nature of the meaning of those words, we give a cellular malfunction more power than it really deserves? For instance, the power to shake our faith as you pointed out.

    I suppose like anything else in life, our personal power is found in our own perceptions of what is happening in our lives.

    For me cancer was a great teacher, not a terrorist. I could have made the choice that I was being terrorized by my cancer, which would leave me still fearful now that I am NED, but instead I sought and still seek to find something else - a greater and higher faith, appreciation for what I have learned and what I have gained, and a greater self awareness of my own power for happiness and wellness, regardless of my new found realization of my own mortality.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
    usakat said:

    Hi Kathy,

    Your post made me think of that schoolyard taunt, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."

    The older and wiser I become I realize that words are indeed very powerful. Any word when spoken or thought of conjures up a certain feeling - a good feeling or a bad feeling. Scientists over the last several years are discovering that thoughts and feelings have very direct physical responses, whereby brain chemicals are released, muscles contract or relax, etc.

    The reality is cancer is basically a cellular malfunction. It has no personality, nor does it have a specific willful agenda. So I wonder if we use words like beast or terrorist, by the nature of the meaning of those words, we give a cellular malfunction more power than it really deserves? For instance, the power to shake our faith as you pointed out.

    I suppose like anything else in life, our personal power is found in our own perceptions of what is happening in our lives.

    For me cancer was a great teacher, not a terrorist. I could have made the choice that I was being terrorized by my cancer, which would leave me still fearful now that I am NED, but instead I sought and still seek to find something else - a greater and higher faith, appreciation for what I have learned and what I have gained, and a greater self awareness of my own power for happiness and wellness, regardless of my new found realization of my own mortality.

    ..and genetics, too can play...something we have no control over...

    I put this post up for just this kind of response...it can be truly enlightening!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #4
    KathiM said:

    ..and genetics, too can play...something we have no control over...

    I put this post up for just this kind of response...it can be truly enlightening!

    Hugs, Kathi

    All great points to ponder. I think of it as part of this great adventure that we call life. When I am not emotional, I am fascinated by what might be next in this journey. Since each case is so different, it is truly an adventure into unknown territory...kind of scary, but fascinating at the same time.
  • crazylady
    crazylady Member Posts: 543 Member
    #5
    Hi Kathi,
    This is a very interesting post. I decided a long time ago that there is no point to cancer. It just is. I believe it is up to us to choose how we react to having cancer in our lives. That being said, the emotional part for me is much more difficult than the physical. Being a control freak and planner by nature, it's been difficult for me to let go of that, though I am working on it.
    Perhaps by referring to cancer as a terrorist, you've given it too much power in your life?
    Take care,
    Jamie
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    crazylady said:

    Hi Kathi,
    This is a very interesting post. I decided a long time ago that there is no point to cancer. It just is. I believe it is up to us to choose how we react to having cancer in our lives. That being said, the emotional part for me is much more difficult than the physical. Being a control freak and planner by nature, it's been difficult for me to let go of that, though I am working on it.
    Perhaps by referring to cancer as a terrorist, you've given it too much power in your life?
    Take care,
    Jamie

    Aw, Jamie...thanks for the concern...I posted this after a wierd evening with friends, and wine, and belly button staring...lol!

    I'm back to my normal naked happy dancing...

    Hugs, kathi
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #7
    KathiM said:

    Aw, Jamie...thanks for the concern...I posted this after a wierd evening with friends, and wine, and belly button staring...lol!

    I'm back to my normal naked happy dancing...

    Hugs, kathi

    Wow... what a thought-provoking post, Kathi. I doubt anyone will ever read this response since the thread has rolled over to page two (maybe three by now?) Anyway...

    I think that cancer IS a beast. I think the term "terrorist" has become somewhat cliche these days so I really try to avoid using it unless it involves some guy with a bomb. BTW, did you know that drug smugglers are now referred to as "narco-terrorists"? Very "Clear and Present Danger" stuff. Anyway...

    I agree with you as far as you took your argument; cancer IS a beast that trys to rob us of our faith. I believe you his the nail squarely on the head there. But, the eternal optomist in me says that that's only the beginning... that attempt to rob us of our faith brings us to a crossroads. We can either crawl inside a hole and let it do its stuff on our body and on our spirit or we can rise up and fight it - and even go one better - we can USE IT AS A CATYLIST FOR CHANGE. To borrow from a popular song, we can:

    "finally [be] the husband,
    That most the time I wasn't.
    And I became a friend a friend would like to have.
    And all the sudden goin' fishing,
    Wasn't such an imposition.
    And I went three times that year I lost my dad.
    Well I finally read the good book,
    And I took a good long hard look at what I'd do
    If I could do it all again.
    And then.

    Go Sky divin',
    I went rocky mountain climbin',
    I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fumanchu.
    And I loved deeper,
    And I spoke sweeter,
    And I watched an eagle as it was flyin'.

    That's what cancer did for me. I believe it helped me move forward to a better place mentally, physically, spiritually in my own life. I don't really see it as a terrorist, I see it as a devouring beast that reminded me I am - much to my chagrin - not immortal and I have left a couple of messes behind me here on this earth that I need to clean up. I am. And I am, as many here have said before, actually thankful that the beast (or the Dragon as I affectionately call it) gave me a wake up call and reminded me I'd better live like I was dyin...

    Love ya, daughter. Have fun in Holland. Don't get a blister from those wooden shoes!

    - Sponge

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