A cancer drug used for Parkinson’s? A treatment for rare type of neuroendocrine prostate cancer this week? There are great improvements daily. Charles (not Chuck, not Charlie, not King- though just as stoic) had his very own breakthrough this week. “Mrs.” Charles is absent Friday, although she has steadily accompanied her husband of 60 years daily, she is having her own doctor’s visit. Charles lights up and the man who barely spoke a few sentences for 6 weeks, is very chatty. ” Doc! I don’t want to worry my wife, but I need to confess. I never thought cancer could crush me like it did. It’s taken over a month coming here, but I appreciate how everything has changed. This time has actually brought my wife and me closer together and I can’t believe it, but I feel stronger than I have in years!”
What Charles is experienceing is the result of tapping his own internal fortitude at a critical time in his life. There is no doubt that a diagnosis is devastating, but with determination and support, there is a digging deep. A realization that this life, including its challenges, is well within your wheelhouse. No drug or treatment can have effect, or force a change or cure. What do we talk about all the time? Immunotherapy taps your own T cells to battle cancer. Even treatments cannot work alone- they all require your own strength.
You do have the personal power to find your own breakthrough. Let a child, a friend or a loved one support. Often its to comfort themselves, but peace with cancer and other life challenges is in you on a very deep and personal level. Your own breakthrough from fear and dispair to healing and acceptance is happening.
Do not underestimate the warm, strong, calming hand. It is a major part of healing. It pulls, pushes and lifts until the patient finds their footing. As with Charles, it is wonderful to witness the patient’s breakthrough as they take ownership of the situation. When we talk about new combination therapies, never leave the person out of the formula. As Charles hobbles down the hall with his cane, I detect a spring in his step. “Where are you headed?” He tells me “To meet with my buddies for coffee!” The Mrs. played her role and now Charles is capitalizing on his growing strength, able to believe that anything is possible. How gratifying to witness these personal breakthroughs daily. I admire each of you as you put the grieving and sadness aside and reach for control.
As my Chinese friend Ping reminds me today, “Joanne! It is the Lunar New Year, the year of the Dragon! You have to wear red!” I will borrow her excitement and pass on some advice, tap into your own fire and passion. It’s all still within, waiting to break through.