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<\/a><\/p>\nIn September 2012, \u00a0I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer. Treatment was successful, and I am happy to report that I am cancer-free and doing well. I wrote for a private circle of friends and family about my experiences at the time, and am now sharing some of my musings here.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Two packages arrive today. One, from my friend Gale, is a CD called \u201cpreparing for surgery: guided imagery exercises for relaxation and accelerated healing.\u201d I wonder about the all-lowercase title. Is it meant to be soothing and low-key, the typesetting equivalent of hushed tones? Or reminiscent of ee cummings from decades ago, when none of us worried about preparing for surgery?<\/p>\n The other package, from my friend Mary, also contains information about surgery preparation, including another CD. \u201cSuccessful Surgery and Recovery\u201d promises to help me \u201cLEARN AUTOGENIC PRESURGICAL TECHNIQUES, MINIMIZE COMPLICATIONS, ENHANCE THE HEALING RESPONSE, CONTROL POST-OPERATIVE PAIN.\u201d The full caps are even more alarming.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve told my friends, By all means, bring it on–send me anything you think will be helpful<\/em>. I am open to all resources, good wishes, prayers, and casseroles. But now that the material has arrived, I think, Get this stuff out of here!<\/em> I do not wish it in my life. More accurately, I do not wish to have cancer and the kind of life that requires knowing what \u201cAUTOGENIC\u201d means.<\/p>\n Mary has enclosed a card. It\u2019s orange and red and grey, with a picture of a smiling little girl with straight-cut bangs holding a cake. (Mary and I are both good bakers, and know how to deliver comfort by creaming butter and sugar.) The front of the card says \u201cshine a light where it\u2019s dark and scary,\u201d and my goodness, hasn\u2019t cake often been that kind of light?<\/p>\n Inside the card Mary has written, in her beautiful Catholic-school cursive:<\/p>\n \u00a0Hope some of this \u2018shines a light.\u2019 You are, of course, in my thoughts and prayers. Get better soon!!!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The last thing I pull from Mary\u2019s care package is another booklet: \u201cYou Are Not Alone: A Guide for Women Newly Diagnosed with Cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n I burst into tears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In September 2012, \u00a0I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer. Treatment was successful, and I am happy to report that I am cancer-free and doing well. I wrote for a private circle of friends and … Continue reading