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| Theresa & Itchy |
Cancer hasn’t exactly been a stranger at my doorstep. Before Boston, Dana Farber and the Red dogs, there was NYC, Sloan Kettering and the “Black Dogs”. Before moving back to Massachusetts I lived in NYC/NJ area for over 30 years. My ex wife Joyce, mother of my son Sean lost a long battle with Ovarian Cancer. Those were the days of the 2 “Black Dogs”. There was Sara a 140-lb Female Newfoundland and “Itchy” a 50 lb Border collie.
Although that was almost 10 years ago, it was the only first hand exposure my Son and I had to Cancer and Chemotherapy.
Not a very pleasant memory to watch his Mom's struggle. After I was diagnosed with Cancer, Joyce’s experience is what led to my fear of Cancer. The thought of going through Chemotherapy terrified me, I assumed I would suffer the same unpleasant experience and meet with an equally untimely fate. At my diagnosis meeting with my doctor, the mere mention of the word “Cancer” caused my pulse to rise & my heartbeat to increase, my palms started to sweat, my eyes welled up with tears followed by the onset of fear and discomfort as my mind worked overtime dredging up the worse memories and nightmares of Joyce’s experience, I could hardly focus on what the Doctor was saying after the word “Cancer came out”. My wife Theresa and I couldn’t even look at each other, we rode down in the elevator in silence, when we arrived at our car in the garage we both held each other and wept.
Although that was almost 10 years ago, it was the only first hand exposure my Son and I had to Cancer and Chemotherapy.
Not a very pleasant memory to watch his Mom's struggle. After I was diagnosed with Cancer, Joyce’s experience is what led to my fear of Cancer. The thought of going through Chemotherapy terrified me, I assumed I would suffer the same unpleasant experience and meet with an equally untimely fate. At my diagnosis meeting with my doctor, the mere mention of the word “Cancer” caused my pulse to rise & my heartbeat to increase, my palms started to sweat, my eyes welled up with tears followed by the onset of fear and discomfort as my mind worked overtime dredging up the worse memories and nightmares of Joyce’s experience, I could hardly focus on what the Doctor was saying after the word “Cancer came out”. My wife Theresa and I couldn’t even look at each other, we rode down in the elevator in silence, when we arrived at our car in the garage we both held each other and wept.
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