I Hate Being So Dependent

Cancer has made life harder for me to deal with

Me, still smiling

I’m an independent person. I left home at 16 because I wanted to be in charge of my own life. My parents were loving and protective, but they were also bossy, particularly my father. We could fight like cats and dogs.

They wanted me to go to college close to them, so I could live at home. I chose a place far enough away so I didn’t have to.

Not that the dorms were all that great. And I had to work to pay for my own room and board because I chose that option, as my parents couldn’t afford that as well as tuition.

I felt it was worth it.

I no longer had a curfew, I no longer had them telling me to not do extracurriculars because they took away from school work. I no longer had to deal with my narcissitic brother and the problems he caused.

My independence continued through young adulthood.

Then, at the age of 36, I got cancer. It was inflammatory breast cancer, which, at that time, was considered fairly deadly. I was given 6 months to live though now, thanks to advances in medical care, the prognosis is much better.

Obviously, I survived.

However, I got a ductal carcinoma 12 years later and had to have a mastectomy. I…