Stand Up to Cancer Day

There is an interesting synergy between society’s calendar and the liturgical calendar today. One of the communion antiphons provided for today proclaims: “Come to me, all who labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you, says the Lord.” Our daily experience is filled with moments of burden, probably one of the most frequent is hearing of friends and family who are dealing with cancer in its various stages.

Today, society’s calendar offers us an opportunity to hold in our hearts those we cherish who are dealing with cancer, and at the same time become more aware of the research and contribute through financial donations. “Stand Up To Cancer” is an American organization started in 2007 by a group of women involved in media. The first case of cancer was documented around 3000 BCE on papyrus, and in 1903 radiation therapy was first used. The Canadian Cancer Society was founded in 1938. Over the many centuries research has identified the various types of cancer, some causes, and treatments that can slow and even manage the growth for periods of time.

Today, Stand Up to Cancer Day reminds us of the need for donations to continue the research.  The Canadian Cancer Society always welcomes our support.

From the scripture passage quoted above the phrase “I will refresh you” conveys the hope that holds us through times of trial. As a society we might consider that hope in the research work, and through the scientists who collaborate to find cures. As people of faith that hope also is found in the many persons who care for those suffering; hope is found in the cancer survivors who tell their stories and claim each day as gift; hope is found in walking the journey with friends and family, being supportive and hearing their stories. Stories that take hold of the situation and seek the energy for that one single day. These are my heroes, who teach me to cherish the gift of life. They “stand up to cancer” whether it be through their commitment to the therapies, their cherished time of resting, their pondering and sharing of treasured memories, their struggles to accept this challenge.

As we continue to support the research and researchers, especially today let us be mindful of our heroes who “stand up to cancer”. As a community, we hold them in prayer and walk with them on their journey.

-Sister Loretta Manzara, CSJ

Image: National Cancer Institute/Unsplash

Musings on living with cancer: is it really a battle?

As I perused the obituaries in the Citizen, I used to always be jarred when I read that someone had died after a heroic, or courageous or valiant battle with cancer.  How could someone fall back on war terms to highlight how a person was engaged with life right to the end? I remember thinking that if I were ever diagnosed with cancer, I would never let such vocabulary describe my dying.  Let my obituary writer be aware!

Well, on July 8^th 2015, I was diagnosed with cancer, a stage 4 colorectal cancer with metastasis to my lymph nodes, my liver and my lungs.  This diagnosis, especially at so advanced a stage, came from left field.  How could my immune system have been overwhelmed so radically while I was going about my life full throttle? How could food intake limitations henceforth set boundaries on my most reliable hearty appetite and my total enjoyment of the most varied culinary menus? Treatment was immediately set in motion with great commitment on the part of my oncology team (surgeon, radiologist and chemotherapist) to guarantee me two years of quality of life before my demise.  I was left to hope that such were God’s designs for me as well.   

As I started my journey through the cancer care process, I began to hear war language directed towards the cancerous cells in my body. They were the invaders, and the strategy was to attack, blast, destroy, etc. How could I conceive of a battle field being set up within my own body, and with chemo as a weapon of choice at that?  Where did my own immune system, however compromised now, fit into this scheme of things? I decided right from the beginning that I would not battle cancer, not use war terms but rather would try to shift the perspective of cancer care vocabulary. I would strive, with God’s grace, to just live with cancer, and live with it well.

From the onset, I informed my oncologist that I would not be putting all my eggs in the chemo therapy basket as if my immune system had totally abdicated its natural responsibilities. Rather, I would seek the help of complementary therapies to boost it, give it a better chance to continue to perform its God-given function in my body, albeit an aging body. More help came from the tremendous flow of loving, prayer-filled energy released by my CSJ community, my family, former colleagues and friends. I never thought my life mattered to so many. I did have and continue to periodically have chemo treatments when the cancerous cells threaten to colonize new territories but, in my mind, these treatments focus primarily on helping my immune system hold its own, not on defeating cancerous cells.  

Cancer is not my enemy; it is simply now part of my life’s journey. It brings its own share of anguish and pain but it is also the bearer of gifts which, as I seek to unwrap them daily with God’s grace, help me remain totally engaged with life as it unfolds for me at this time.

Nicole Aubé CSJ