Getting Better at Having Cancer Together

We are getting better at having cancer.  After my diagnosis in 2007 followed by surgery, radiation treatments, and years of hormone therapy and other drug concoctions, we had learned as a couple most of the basic “live with cancer” skills.  In 2013, MaryBeth was diagnosed with breast cancer and we began down a similar path of surgeries, radiation, and a mix of drug therapies, but the “live with cancer” skill set had changed. 

At times, we both can be challenged by low energy, which leads to household slip-ups, and forgetfulness.  Cancer can be distracting when our mind chatter is too loud, and makes really listening to the most important person in our life hard.  Worse, it’s almost impossible to put fear into words that you know the other person does not what to hear.  The good news, we are starting to learn the new set of “live with cancer” skills.  We’ve come up with a whole new set of rituals that we share when we are together strengthening our commitment to each other.  We are getting better at having cancer together because of our love.