🩺 Cancer Diary: When the Fight Isn’t Over

 

Today’s entry is for those whose cancer journeys don’t end with one diagnosis—or even one kind of cancer.

My friend has been battling breast cancer for over five years. She’s endured a double mastectomy and the removal of all reproductive organs. Now, she faces surgery for melanoma.

I, too, have had cancer—adenocarcinoma removed from my face. But our paths, while both marked by courage, stress, and trepidation, differ in ways that matter.

🔍 Understanding the Differences

• Type of Cancer:
• Breast cancer and melanoma are biologically distinct. Breast cancer originates in breast tissue, often hormone-sensitive. Melanoma begins in pigment-producing skin cells and is known for its potential to spread quickly.
• Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that forms in mucus-secreting glands. Mine was localized and removed surgically.
• Extent of Disease:
• My cancer was caught early and treated definitively.
• My friend’s experience is systemic and ongoing. Her body has endured multiple surgeries, hormone depletion, and now a new malignancy.
• Impact on the Body:

• She’s navigating life without estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone—hormones that affect everything from bone density to mood.
• Melanoma adds another layer of vigilance: skin checks, lymph node monitoring, and possibly immunotherapy.

🧭 What She Needs Now

• Expert Surgical Care: Melanoma surgery often involves wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy.
• Dermatologic Surveillance: Regular skin exams and imaging to catch recurrence or spread.
• Emotional Support: The psychological toll of “another cancer” can be profound. She may feel betrayed by her body, exhausted by the cycle.
• Hormonal Management: Even post-surgery, she may need help managing the long-term effects of hormone loss.

🤝 How Supporters Can Help Friends in Similar Situations

• Be Present Without Pressure: Don’t urge them to “stay strong.” Instead, offer steady companionship without expectations.
• Offer Practical Help: Rides to appointments, meal prep, pet care, or simply sitting quietly together—these gestures matter.
• Respect Their Autonomy: Let them set the tone for conversations about their health, emotions, and decisions.
• Educate Yourself: Learn about the types of cancer they’re facing. Understanding their medical reality shows respect and care.
• Support the Wider Community: Advocate for cancer research, patient support programs, and policies that ease the burden for others walking similar paths.

💬 For Those Like Her

You are not alone. Your body may carry scars, but it also carries stories—of survival, of grit, of grace. You deserve care that sees the whole of you, not just your diagnosis.

And to those who’ve faced cancer once and wonder if it’s “enough” to count: it is. Every battle matters. Every healing matters.

For other Cancer Diary posts, click HERE.

Blog editor's note: As a memorial to Carl, and simply because it is truly needed, MSI Press is now hosting a web page, Carl's Cancer Compendium, as a one-stop starting point for all things cancer, to make it easier for those with cancer to find answers to questions that can otherwise take hours to track down on the Internet and/or from professionals. The CCC is expanded and updated weekly. As part of this effort, each week, on Monday, this blog will carry an informative, cancer-related story -- and be open to guest posts: Cancer Diary. 

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