Friday, March 02, 2012

Sturdy...

Hellebores are often prized in the garden for their unusual colors and exotic-looking flowers.  What I love best about this particular flower is that they are sturdy.  This flower is sometimes called the Lenten or Christmas Rose, because it is frost-resistant.  They come back, year-after-year, blooming when other flowers are just thinking of sprouting and even the deer leave them alone for the most part.  Even when all else is still brown or covered over with snow, the leaves of the hellebore are a surprising burst of emerald.  These flowers are no ephemeral crocus with blossoms that disappear seemingly overnight, but last sometimes for months.  These plants are survivors.

I want to thank everyone for their well-wishes and positive encouragement in the post titled, Speed Bumps.  I definitely feel as though all the good vibrations helped heal me and guide me through a particularly rough time.  I appreciate all the comments and the emails.  They mean so much to me!  Since I wrote that post, the bump has decreased in size and the discoloration has faded.  The "scab" has healed over and it is well on its way to disappearing completely.

One of the things that I have had to let go of was the fear that the cancer could return at any moment.  Every time I get a pimple or an ingrown hair, I can't run to the hospital to get samples sliced off... nor do I really want to.  (I don't think my doctor wants to see me every time I get a pimple either!)  This does not mean that I think I'm invincible... far from it... but it does mean that I am going to have to be more proactive about my health.  I can do things like improve my diet and exercise and get more sleep!  It's all about prevention.  Monitoring.  And if need be... treatment.

A positive that came from this scare is that I have been looking into alternatives to traditional surgery and have come up with some interesting and promising results!  There's a doctor named Dr. Mercola who has developed a skin cream from eggplants (believe it or not) that effectively targets and kills certain types of skin cancer cells.  It's pricey, but a lot less expensive than my last treatment and a heck of a whole lot less invasive than having a half square foot of skin removed.

My last encounter was what you'd call... less than stellar.  It was stressful, painful, and they only treated the cancer.  Spiritually, emotionally, and financially I was left in ruins.  So... I want to embrace a different path to wellness that addresses the facets that were neglected previously.

10 comments:

somethingunique said...

Hi Andrew....so happy to hear you speed bump is healing...so nice to be able to visit your blog agin with my new iPad and wireless connection...still a 50yr old non tech with an iPad with auto correct has some interestingness comments on Facebook...like when I called Miss Shannon Levart a hunky...instead of a hunny..lol...anyway nice to hear from you..take care and have a wonderful weekend....ttfn Lana... :)

Jill MacKay said...

Dear Andrew,
You are loved. You are brave and courageous. Thank you for being so as even when going through scary hard things you remain a positive force that uplifts those of us lucky enough to care about you.

Here's to your good health and eggplants!
Love,
Jill

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

So glad to read this post! I admire your positive outlook. Here is to good health...physically and spiritually! Stay well!

Alice said...

Andrew, I'm happy the speed bump has nearly disappeared. I don't think I told you this, but my mother died this past June from melanoma. The bad thing is it was in her eye, and then traveled to liver and lung, but was never visible as a bump or mole that could have been detected. Our family was cursed with pale skin, and I panic when I see a new dot or bump etc., so I know how easy it is to think the worst. It's not easy to rein in those frightening thoughts of 'what if', especially when the outcome can be pretty bad. I'm glad to hear you are working through that with a positive outlook.

Margot Potter said...

Dear friend, so happy to hear this was just a little speed bump. Take care and be well.

Love
Margot

Cyndi J said...

I'm happy to hear that this thing was just a little blip in the road. I like your comparison between the hellebore and what's been happening with you. (I think that's what you intended.) Perseverance in spite of hardship.

And it's disgusting that in this country we don't have some sort of healthcare system so that everyone can benefit without being financially ruined.

SueBeads said...

Hey Andrew! I haven't been on the blog roll for a while, just stopping by today. I hope you are ok! I know what you mean by always being worried. I'm 8 years out but still think about it a lot. However, you will find a day where you say to yourself, wow, I didn't think about cancer at ALL yesterday! It does happen!

Joan Tucker said...

Andrew, off the computer mostly in Palm Springs just read your hellebore post. So happy you are ok. I agree that most cancer care is not very caring. Detection and treatment are also saving lives if not spirits. Stay well and think spring.
Joan T

Joan Tucker said...

Andrew, off the computer mostly in Palm Springs just read your hellebore post. So happy you are ok. I agree that most cancer care is not very caring. Detection and treatment are also saving lives if not spirits. Stay well and think spring.
Joan T

Patti Cahill said...

Very relieved on your behalf...Best, Patti