support a family member battling cancer
Supporting my wife as she battles anal cancer

My wife started treatment this week for anal cancer. I provided more details on my main blog. The goal I want to articulate here is to be as supportive as possible, finding the right balance between acknowledging her grief and my grief, while maintaining my strength and hope - and health - so as to be a pillar for her as she proceeds through the chemotherapy and radiation … and contends with uncertainty, pain and loss. I want to be strong yet vulnerable, let my feelings flow, let them go, and rise to meet the challenges before us.



Comments:

Ed Wynn deciding to lose 35more pounds

thoughts with you

I helped my Dad through his brain tumor time … always wish I could have done more… he was strong, we were close.. best luck for remission to your wife and for respite to you !

Komakino 'you do it to yourself, you do...'

I hope everything goes well for you and your wife!

One year later, on the upswing

Synchronistically, I just happened to visit the site today for the first time in several months. Thanks to everyone who shared their comments and cheers. As I noted in my blog thread on cancer counterinsurgency, although there were some rough spots, the treatment appears to have been successful. Although there are still some lingering side effects, at the one year mark after the start of treatment, my wife has regained much of her energy, and continues to improve in small, sometimes imperceptible, ways. It’s easier to see at the moment, given the benefit of the long view back to the week of August 15, 2005.


Joe McCarthy has gotten 7 cheers on this entry.

 

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