Cancer Diary: Implicit in Their Actions
When Carl was diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary (CUP), we didn't know yet what that meant. We had never heard of it before. Even after we learned more, we still clung to hope—because that’s what the doctors appeared to be offering. But their actions told a different story. CUP is brutal. It's rare and aggressive, and statistically, not many people survive it. The median survival rate hovers around 6 to 12 months. Fewer than 20% of patients live longer than a year. And Carl didn’t have just one form of cancer—he had five types present. They still couldn’t tell where the cancer began. Now, looking back, I understand what the oncologist must have seen in those test results. I also understand why they still tried to sound hopeful. The treatment plans were delivered with upbeat tones: targeted therapies, potential clinical trials, aggressive chemo. But there were moments—small, seemingly innocuous moments—when the mask of optimism slipped. One doctor handed Carl an advance ...