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Cancer Won, and I Think HE Cheated

Who says that all fights are fair?

By Erika WatsonPublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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I lost my mom to cancer in December 2010; I was 20 years old. I'm sure if you're reading this, you knew someone who has been touched by cancer. What am I saying!? You have known someone who has been slapped across the face by cancer. It sucks, especially if cancer wins.

You probably noticed, but I used the pronoun HE to describe cancer. I look at cancer as someone who is big, strong, and steals your heart (literally) when you least expect it—kind of like a man. If you know anything about cancer, it's that 35% of men and women will be diagnosed in their lifetime, and only 67% will survive (National Cancer Institute). Your odds can only be that good if you've cheated.

Those are the facts, and I will give you proof.

1. Cancer comes out of nowhere when you least expect it.

If it was a fair fight, the least he could do is give us a countdown or a "ready, set, go." You're not prepared to fight cancer with the energy that you will need to succeed. You don't have enough time to prepare your friends and family for the suffering of losing you. No one has time to do anything when cancer is lurking around the corner. My mom started her fight with cancer at stage 4. If she was prepared, it wouldn't have spread so quickly. Being prepared is for an equal fight; cancer likes to cheat.

2. When you think you're about to win, cancer finds a shortcut and crosses the finish line first.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she opted in for chemotherapy and radiation. When my parents told me and my siblings that my mother had cancer, it was like an alternate reality—this can't be happening to me; this can't be happening to my mom! Instead of sulking, my mom quickly went through treatment, and she was soon in remission. We thought she had won. But little did we know cancer had a shortcut; cancer likes to cheat.

3. There are no water breaks in this race.

Later, my mom was diagnosed with 3 other types of cancer; on her lung, in one of her bones, and her ovaries. Just like that, he threw her another curveball. My mom began treatment, but a few months later she was soon hospitalized. There comes a point in any race where you want to give up, throw the towel in, and wonder if it's even worth it anymore; not my mom. My mom didn't give up, she kept fighting. That determination scared cancer, and he didn't know what to do. When all else failed, he had to do anything to win. Remember, cancer likes to cheat.

4. Once you're down, cancer kicks you again to make sure you won't get back up.

While in the hospital, a tumor was found on my mom's vocal chords which prevented her from speaking; this was in October 2010. She was still her happy and bubbly self, and still with the look of determination to win in her eyes. She gave us so much hope that she would pull through and beat cancer; that he WILL be defeated once and for all. But cancer had other plans. He put his foot out at the finish line, and my mom tripped. Cancer likes to cheat.

5. On December 5, 2010, my mom passed away from cancer. Cancer cheated, and he won.

Oddly enough, I have forgiven cancer. I forgave him because my mom put up the bravest fight I've ever seen. She gave me hope to keep fighting and spreading the word of my mother's love and determination. Even though cancer won this time, he gave so much more determination to others to keep fighting. Cancer may like to cheat, but I'll be damned if I let him win again.

grief
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About the Creator

Erika Watson

I'm just a girl trying to figure out the world. Assistant Director at summer, and traveler during the offseason.

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