Member-only story
Getting By With Help From Friends
Having cancer has been a humbling experience
I’ve always been an independent person. I worked through college so I could pay for my own room and board, though my parents covered my tuition. Unfortunately, they had to take out student loans that I had to pay back when I’d graduated. However, they were doing the best they could to look after me and I appreciate it.
Once I graduated, I was self-supporting.
When I got married, for the early years, I worked full time and I made more than my husband did.
Then I got cancer.
It was inflammatory breast disease and I was only in my 30s. This is a very aggressive type of cancer and the average survival rates at the time were that only 15% would live 18 months or longer.
Obviously I survived but … I could no longer work full time thanks to the treatment I got. I became somewhat dependent on my husband for financial support.
Then the cancer came back a few years ago. I needed a mastectomy and my husband left shortly after that.
Then last April, I was diagnosed with metastatic brain, lung, and liver cancer. I am now going through chemotherapy. It saps whatever energy I have. I still manage to get some articles written, but I am so tired and…
