THE BIG C

About 18 months ago a friend of mine was diagnosed with a very rare but curable type of colon cancer. The doctor after surgery said that he was 99% sure he got most of the cancer. I said no doctor can be absolutely sure he got all the cancer. As my friend lost tons of weight and religiously received his chemo everything appeared fine. Well, until another friend told me what was going on.

I guess the chemo did not work and the cancer came back. His brother did not want to tell everyone because rumors would get started. He had been seeing a doctor in DC for awhile. Saturday he went through his second operation and on Sunday I called his brother to see how the surgery went. The first words were: "It did not go well." They could not get all the cancer because how close it was to the liver and a major artery. Now, we can only hope the chemo will work this time. I told him he and his family were in my prayers and thoughts. We must think positively, especially his brother.

However, having witness three people die from cancer two very young with so much to give to this world and the other in his twilight who shared his life stories with me as I grew up, I can only think of the worst. I pray for the best, but suspect the worst will come in a year or two. All I know is it is up to his medical care and God.