My Life's Lesson - Part 1

I would like to share with you some of the lessons I learned from this cancer.

First lesson: Cancer can happen to every one.
One of the questions some people asked me is if do I smoke? Most people have preconceived ideas. They seems to think that smoking is associated with lung cancer but you will be surprised that many lung cancer patients do not smoke. Cancer does not discriminate though some cancers seems more susceptible to females (like breast cancer) and males (like kidney cancer). If you think you are least likely to get cancer, think again. I have been very active in exercising, jogging at least once a week and going to the gym two to three times a week. Over the years, I have changed my lifestyle. I sleep by 11pm and only drink some liquor occasionally when I have to entertain clients. I also cut down on meat intake, eating more vegetables instead. I thought I would be the last people to get cancer. It's my pure ignorance and ego not to spend time to understand more about cancer that lead me to my present predicatment.

Thinking "it's not going to happen to me" is not going to help. Cancer strikes silently and without warning and when you know you have it, it's normally too late. Some of the nicest and generous people I know have cancers. Cancer may seems to strike randomly and yet over the years some doctors have found certain people are more susceptible to cancer. Please see my posting on cancer personality for more details.

Lesson Two: Why me?
I am sure many readers will have different views of this lesson and I would like to hear from you. For me, there is no why me? I have had so many good things that happen to me, family, career and friends in my pre-cancer days. I also had some breaks. So when something like cancer strikes me, why can't it be me? When you get good things, you must also prepare to accept bad things can happen to you. Of course, I learned from research that one of the major causes of cancer is due to lifestyle. Lifestyle does not just mean diet but the way we live.

Though it is very easy for us to engage in self pity, such depressing thought will only bring more pain. Occasionally, I do slip into such a state. Once way of overcoming such depression to let people come into my life. Let people help you. Accept their love and support. Pray, meditate, and surround yourself with all the goodness this world has to offer. And then, when there is an opportunity, give it back to another patient walking along the path behind you. I have learned that there is no necessity to survive to make someone else's journey a little easier, I can use the time given to me to return all the love and support that was given to me.

To be continued.