Cancer Research UK outlines that 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime which is a staggering statistic. This means that everyone will be affected by it in their lifetime and this also means that multiple episodes are predicted. This is certainly the case in my family.
And my family are fortunate to be a family of survivors.
Within my wife and mine's combined families we have had a number of cancer cases. We have seen breast cancer, kidney cancer, prostrate cancer and the most recent, bowel cancer. And because of the NHS and Health services and staff who have held our hands during these times, we have also seen these cancers go. We are incredibly thankful.
The image (above) that introduces this story features my Mum, a survivor of breast cancer and her sister Vivienne who has just recovered from bowel cancer. This documents the first time they have seen each other since her diagnosis and recovery that spanned an enormous 2 year period. What made this case harder for them was that Aunty Viv battled her cancer during COVID so seeing family and friends wasn't as easy or as frequent as would have been the case if we hadn't had the pandemic to tackle, globally. I know that there would have been countless times their hands would have held together during this time. I and my family applaud their strength, love and commitment during this time, especially for that shown by Aunty Viv.
It was great seeing them reunited and continue, like all good friendships do, where they left off.
We are proud of them, as we are of all the survivors of cancer in our family.
Moments such as this certainly builds for belief for the 'if and when' and the 'should' we come across cancer again, because statistics being such as they are, it is possible. I would rather hope that we will live beyond statistics. But right now, we are thoroughly happy and grateful for the deliverance, the recovery and the healing of Aunty Viv. It's so good to see and hear her smile and laughter again.
There is nothing else quite like its colour and infectiousness.
