The C Word

Around this time of the year, the C word usually is Christmas. People start saying in November ‘Is it too early to mention the C word?’ or ‘I’m so excited this year for C********’. But that’s not the one I’m one about today. Nor is the more naughty C U Next Tuesday C Word! No, the C word today is cancer.

In March 2009 my father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that week, I was in the middle of my 3rd year college exams when he was admitted to hospital. I remember sitting an exam and managing to convince the supervisors to let me leave early so I could run to get the bus to take me on the 2 hour journey to the hospital. And 2 weeks later I had to move across the country to do work experience. Luckily the treatment worked and this time last year he stopped chemo and went into remission. Dad went for regular check ups and last month something showed up. It happened so fast, check up Wednesday, phone call Wednesday evening and then overnight admission to hospital Thursday and chemotherapy started again following Thursday. I don’t know why but this time it seems to have affected me more. Maybe it’s because this time Dad will lose his hair. Maybe it’s because he’s found it very difficult to wrap his head around it and has been so up and down, it’s hard to watch someone go through something so emotionally. Maybe it’s because this time he’ll have to get a bone marrow transplant, it sounds so scary and daunting.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they caught it early again thanks to the regular check ups. It’s just, even though it’s hard to deal with something like this at any time, it seems especially hard around Christmas time. Next chemo session is this Thursday meaning Dad should feel well for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but will more than likely be ill for my sister’s 21st a few days later. I am glad to be closer to home this time though.

This has mainly been the reason for my lack of posts, hopefully I’ll be able to get back into the swing of things again soon!