The
Pain of it all
So I now have a diagnosis. Hodgkin's disease. Let's call it cancer.
I've heard of that. I know what it is - Fiona, a woman I live with is
having chemotherapy for breast cancer. This is different, I'm told.
They don't tell you that an 80% chance of cure means a 20% chance of
death. You're left to work that one out for yourself. Death. Life is
bad enough, that's what I thought. But who do I tell? Mum, I want to
die. Hey, lover of mine, I think forever might be closer than I thought.
Hi good friend, want to talk about euthanasia and writing a will?
"We're all in pain, why can't we share our pain?"
Death and illness are almost taboo subjects even though we will all
die eventually. Who isn't frightened and doesn't find it difficult to
talk to someone they know might be dying? I wasn't prepared, neither
were my family and friends. Who's going to help me, listen to me, understand
me, be there for me - just for me. Not be frightened by my thoughts
and feelings of having my life threatened, changed, and maybe dying
at the end of it all anyway.