First it was my mother, breast cancer then brain cancer. In 1986. She went home to die and it wasn’t pretty. She was 66 years old. Her Dad and Mom both died of some form of caner. Not a good sign for genetic makeup.
Then, my twin sisters, Dawn and Diane, both had breast cancer – They had operations and Diane’s cancer came back first – brain cancer. She kept it from us (or, at least me), until she was in her death bed. She died in 1995 at age 55. Way too young to die. My younger brother, Brian died in 1999 of the effects of sharing drug needles. He didn’t make it to 50. He had liver failure due to hepatitis C as well as loosing both legs to diabetes. It was the same year that my Dad also died of cancer. He had both lung and brain cancer. I think the lung cancer got him.
Now, my sister Dawn’s cancer came back about a year ago. Breast cancer and she also has lung cancer. She has been doing chemo for the last 6 months. She has a great attitude when the pain is managed. She may have a year, or less, left. Dawn is 69. My brother Gary, who is 70, has lung cancer and liver failure. His liver failure is due to his excessive drinking. Gary is on some form of expensive medicine to manage or slow down the speed of his death. Both Dawn and Gary still smoke. They won’t be here long.
I quite smoking in Jan 1989. Best thing I ever did for myself. However, Cancer lives in my genes and as I try to take care of my weight, diet, and exercise, I may live longer than most of my family has. But we never live for ever. I just want 10 years of good quality life. And when I go, let me go fast. None of this lingering stuff. No bed for months. No expensive drugs or drugs to manage this and that effect. And let me keep my brain functional, please! Just let me go fast.
My dad’s side of the family has bad heart disease genes. Maybe I’ll go with a massive attack.
Enough complaining.
Time to get on with life.
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