Halloween is over (I know this because the leftover Trick-or-Treat candy is all gone). Thanksgiving is over (I know this because the leftover turkey and stuffing is all gone). And the Christmas/Hanukkah season is upon us in full swing (I know this because that one FM radio station is playing only holiday songs from now until December 25). I also know this because I’ve logged the annual 10,000+ steps bringing the decorations up from the basement.
With lots of help from lots of elves, the house is glowing from the lights of trees and menorahs, and full of the sweet aroma of mega-batches of seasonal home-baked cookies - to devour and share. There is so much going on, that it’s easy to put certain aspects of life on hold for the month of December (“I’ll take care of that after New Year’s Eve”). For the life of a person with cancer, depending on where they are along their journey, this can be a time of year that fosters a host of feelings from joy to its polar opposite of sadness.
Speaking strictly from my personal point of view, I really enjoy this season. But it also carries a new cancer-milestone memory for me: my stem cell transplant happened right around this time in 2017 (I was in the hospital awaiting that procedure on 12/25/17). And also speaking strictly from my POV, back in 2017 and so too this year, I want my focus to be on all of the other things going on in my life BESIDES my cancer. I’m fortunate health-wise that medically my disease is under control, and I’m even more fortunate emotionally that my life is under control and not ruled by my ongoing Multiple Myeloma.
Being almost six years removed from my life-changing (life-saving) stem cell transplant (has it really been six years ?!?), my condition isn’t the source of much conversation or accommodation. And that’s just the way I want it. I suspect that like so many other cancer patients, during this holi-does time of year, I don’t want the focus of our festivities to be on me or my disease (my needs). We don’t need to pretend it’s not happening or hide behind any veil of denial; just use the “moment” as an excuse to eat too much, laugh too much, hug too much, and enjoy what we have today.
Life is sweet, there is much to be thankful for, and I’ve been given the gift of recovery. ‘Tis the season!
