THE WELCH COMPANY
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S U M M A R Y


DIARY: June 16, 2003 01:16 PM Monday; Rod Welch

Millie thinking about treatment and recovery from cancer.

1...Summary/Objective


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CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Relapse Likely Due to High Risk Factors in Millie's Case Doctor Payin
50 Year Old Millie at 67 Has Health Vigor of Strong 50 Year Old Woman
Survival Not Positive Explanation for Recovering from Cancer
Millie Submits Research Showing Some Patients Object to Phrase Cancer
Research Shows Some Patients Object to Phrase Cancer Survivor

0807 -
0807 -    ..
0808 - Summary/Objective
0809 -
080901 - Follow up ref SDS 2 7C6W.
080902 -
080903 - Received a letter today from Millie transmitting a copy of a letter
080904 - that criticizes and rejects the common explanation of....
080905 -
080906 -                      cancer survivor
080907 -
080908 - ...to summarize the condition of people in treatment and recoverying
080909 - from cancer.  The letter expresses frustration about not having
080910 - another phrase, and does not seem to have considered "in recovery," or
080911 - similar formulations to replace "survivor." ref SDS 0 7Q4F
080913 -  ..
080914 - Millie says she agrees with these sentiments...
080915 -
080916 -    1.  You have no idea how heartening it was to receive the e-mail
080917 -        concerning the word, CANCER ***SURVIVOR***.  There has
080918 -        seemingly been very real concern about the term for quite some
080919 -        time now.  As long ago as two years, in one of my very
080920 -        wonderful Cancer Support Groups, the fantastic folks who were
080921 -        participating came to this very Issue.
080923 -         ..
080924 -    2.  We discussed the word, *SURVIVOR*, and its merit and its
080925 -        faults. I have still a vivid recollection that many thought
080926 -        using not only the word, 'Survivor' (pertaining to cancer) but
080927 -        many other words or phrases, such as 'Fighting the Battle',
080928 -        'Winning the War' and many other phrases and words which are
080929 -        used in the context to describe our Encounter with Cancer not
080930 -        acceptable.
080932 -         ..
080933 -    3.  If one of us 'Survives' for one year and another for six
080934 -        months, does it mean the one year *Survivor* knew more or did
080935 -        something more intelligent or more right than the *Survivor* of
080936 -        six months?  Does it mean that one of our ranks "fought the
080937 -        'Battle Against Cancer' " harder or stronger or more
080938 -        intelligently than did another? Should one be considered more
080939 -        of a "hero" of the 'Cancer Battle' than someone else.
080941 -         ..
080942 -    4.  I agree 100% with Karen when she writes that she prefers to
080943 -        call herself a cancer "patient" even today.  I, too, voice
080944 -        these very words.  As Karen points out "...it is hard to call
080945 -        yourself a 'Survivor' when you keep wondering when it will
080946 -        sneak up and get you again...".  And though I share her very
080947 -        HOPE and HAPPINESS that I've been 'cancer free' for a time,
080948 -        there is always in the deepest recesses of my mind, the
080949 -        knowledge that tomorrow I could be once again diagnosed with a
080950 -        recurrence.  Does this not indeed make me a "patient" still?
080952 -         ..
080953 -    5.  And though we discussed the *SURVIVOR WORD* in Support Group in
080954 -        great detail, none could find a "better" way to describe our
080955 -        'shared' experience of still being alive in spite of the
080956 -        'cancer' diagnosis. It seems no one had or has "THE ANSWER".
080958 -         ..
080959 -    6.  But for myself---as for each one who has heard the words, "you
080960 -        have cancer" must do---I have made a conscious choice of what
080961 -        to say in the place of calling myself a "Cancer Survivor."  If
080962 -        ever the situation arises,
080963 -
080965 -  ..
080966 - Submitted ref DIT 1 0001 to Millie saying....
080967 -
080968 -    1.  See your point about overuse and misuse of "survivor" in
080969 -        relation to recovering from cancer, as discussed in research
080970 -        submitted with your letter today. ref SDS 0 KN61
080971 -
080972 -    2.  We could be completely cynical and say everyone is a "survivor"
080973 -        each day we take a breath.  After all, we are all susceptible
080974 -        to random accidents, both internal, as when our own genetics
080975 -        catch up with us, like in your case, or when we encounter a
080976 -        societal hazard, like those afflicted with SARS, and similar
080977 -        serious diseases, often simply by being in the wrong place at
080978 -        the wrong time; and, further, when untold cultural hazards
080979 -        strike from things like congested traffic and hurried people
080980 -        who cause accidents.  So, life is filled with risks from which
080981 -        we must all be on guard to fight for "survival" every day.
080982 -        ref DIT 1 OZ6G
080984 -         ..
080985 -    3.  Of course, cancer and other infirmities, like a stroke, heart
080986 -        attack, kidney failure, etc., present dangers, and medical and
080987 -        emotional challenges for recovery, well beyond what everybody
080988 -        faces in daily life.  That's one reason why your family and
080989 -        friends admire you so much, in coming to terms with the burden
080990 -        of continual recovery from cancer.  Recall that when we started
080991 -        this "project" you talked about the importance of keeping your
080992 -        head up and to do your best accomplishing big goals.  At that
080993 -        time, in March of last year, I said that you would become the
080994 -        "poster-lady" for cancer recovery.  Remember telling Doctor
080995 -        Johnson in the beginning, before starting treatments, about
080996 -        your plans to send him a picture of you and Pam on top of Mt.
080997 -        Diablo after a hike up the trail that very few in the world can
080998 -        do, much less a 67 year old grandmother recovering from cancer.
080999 -        So, there is much still ahead to fight for.  Indeed, while "7
081000 -        wonders of the world + 2 + 1" were discovered on 020117.
081001 -        ref SDS 1 PY55, your special determination and strength reveal
081002 -        yet another "wonder" for all of us who are privileged to be
081003 -        touched your life. ref DIT 1 0I7I
081005 -         ..
081006 -    4.  "Treatment and recovery" captures the spirit you embody that
081007 -        sets a positive, proactive example for all of us in meeting the
081008 -        hazards of daily life. ref DIT 1 9K9M  That's why I'm glad you
081009 -        brought this up with Doctor Johnson when we visited on 030606,
081010 -        and that he made clear that your treatment is a top priority.
081011 -        ref SDS 2 VY7G
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0811 -