The Score: Woman One,
Cancer Zero
By: Jackie Clark
Hearing the words you have malignant mesothelioma can be hard to handle. A woman’s mind races as she pondered the last few months. She goes over and over her symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue. All of her symptoms pointed to a diagnosis of pneumonia. Never once did it cross her mind that she could face something so serious that the prognosis given to her was very poor at best: 3 to 5 years at the most.
What does a woman in the prime of her life do with 3 to 5 years to live? Would more doctors make a difference? Would better doctors make a difference? Is a 2nd opinion sufficient? Or do you go for the trifecta of a third opinion? What will this cancer steal away from her? Is the question of vanity relevant here? Her mind races with questions. Cancer is a bitter enemy that prides itself on robbing women of their most prized possession, their femininity. But she had a secret weapon. She had the will to continue living her life to the fullest no matter the prognosis. She was a woman with a long bucket list!
While cancer is a definite force to be reckoned with, so is a woman. Many women spend their lives and hard-earned money trying to maintain a youthful appearance and age gracefully. Cancer throws a major kink in this plan. Cancer does not discriminate. Cancer doesn’t care if a woman is 14, 24, or 44. A cancer diagnosis jettisons a woman into a fight or flight mindset. She will fight the brave fight or curl up in a ball and give up. She knew what her choice was. It was to fight. She fought with beautiful wigs styled to perfection. She lashed back with numerous lotions and moisturizers to counter the drying effects of chemotherapy and radiation. She sampled organic, mineral-based foundations to put that fabulous glow back into her cheeks. Only the most fashionable frocks and fashions would carry her through this crisis! She fought hard in an attempt to grasp onto the little bit of femininity that remained within her.
Then comes the ah hah moment. Her femininity was “within” her. It wasn’t the potions and oils on the outside that made her the woman she was. A woman’s beauty lies within her soul. It’s important to point out here that there is no shame in working to maintain a healthy vibrant appearance in any situation. However, this isn’t the true essence of a woman. A woman emanating beauty from within will far outshine any mask she wears on her face, any wig that is placed upon her head, or any designer fashion in which she dresses herself. In the battle of a lifetime, inner beauty will always trump disease. The score: woman one, cancer zero.
Hearing the words you have malignant mesothelioma can be hard to handle. A woman’s mind races as she pondered the last few months. She goes over and over her symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue. All of her symptoms pointed to a diagnosis of pneumonia. Never once did it cross her mind that she could face something so serious that the prognosis given to her was very poor at best: 3 to 5 years at the most.
What does a woman in the prime of her life do with 3 to 5 years to live? Would more doctors make a difference? Would better doctors make a difference? Is a 2nd opinion sufficient? Or do you go for the trifecta of a third opinion? What will this cancer steal away from her? Is the question of vanity relevant here? Her mind races with questions. Cancer is a bitter enemy that prides itself on robbing women of their most prized possession, their femininity. But she had a secret weapon. She had the will to continue living her life to the fullest no matter the prognosis. She was a woman with a long bucket list!
While cancer is a definite force to be reckoned with, so is a woman. Many women spend their lives and hard-earned money trying to maintain a youthful appearance and age gracefully. Cancer throws a major kink in this plan. Cancer does not discriminate. Cancer doesn’t care if a woman is 14, 24, or 44. A cancer diagnosis jettisons a woman into a fight or flight mindset. She will fight the brave fight or curl up in a ball and give up. She knew what her choice was. It was to fight. She fought with beautiful wigs styled to perfection. She lashed back with numerous lotions and moisturizers to counter the drying effects of chemotherapy and radiation. She sampled organic, mineral-based foundations to put that fabulous glow back into her cheeks. Only the most fashionable frocks and fashions would carry her through this crisis! She fought hard in an attempt to grasp onto the little bit of femininity that remained within her.
Then comes the ah hah moment. Her femininity was “within” her. It wasn’t the potions and oils on the outside that made her the woman she was. A woman’s beauty lies within her soul. It’s important to point out here that there is no shame in working to maintain a healthy vibrant appearance in any situation. However, this isn’t the true essence of a woman. A woman emanating beauty from within will far outshine any mask she wears on her face, any wig that is placed upon her head, or any designer fashion in which she dresses herself. In the battle of a lifetime, inner beauty will always trump disease. The score: woman one, cancer zero.
