Being fair-skinned, I am vigilant about taking care to protect myself from the sun’s rays. Skin cancers (basel cell variety, thank goodness, but bad enough, to be sure) run in my family. This form of cancer may not be deadly, like melanoma, but it is certainly a danger in and of itself. The surgery can be disfiguring and painful, and it is not to be trifled with. I tell my students - who love visiting the tanning salon - to embrace life on the pale side, and also warn them that people of color do NOT escape from this particular form of cancer.

Joan, I thought your response to this question was just wonderful. Full of the kind of warmth and humor and perspective that marks your writing. Good health to you, my dear! Long may you wave!

I had breast cancer 9 years ago. It was inoperable where it presented itself at first (on the breastbone) so I just had chemotherapy. Radiation and a mastectomy was advised later but I did not have that, I actually went on a road trip for a family reunion to the (of all places) Grand Tetons instead (*I* did not plan *that* : ) Anyway, it was purely a spiritual decision to discontinue treatment. I then wrote a book about the experience and after a long while I published it. In those 8 years I never went to a doctor or had a checkup - I just enjoyed my life, did things I never had dreamed of doing, and watched my daughter grow up. Then, recently, when my book came out I began to have pain and - long story short - the cancer had reappeared. What made this more difficult was that the disease really sought to shake my faith because I had trusted that what I had written about in my book and what I had done was the right course of action for *ME* and I had basically stood up and said so. So the cancer came back - was I wrong? Was my book just a bunch of bs?! I almost fell into this pit of self-doubt and recrimination but the funny thing is I do still think that no matter what this cancer is throwing at me (and it is alot!) that I did the right thing. I never said I knew what would happen to me, I only said I knew that to be in a place of "trust" was going to be my refuge and my strength. Now life is surely different, I have much to deal with physically but I do not feel that I am at war with this cancer, I feel that this cancer is at war with me and it can go screw. haha : D Seriously, I am seeing doctor (s) and I am now undergoing treatment (s) because this is what I know I need to do "now." And, I still am doing my best to do what I had set out to do all along which is to continuously "choose" to take the high road and believe that there is a plan for my life and that plan is a good one even if I cannot find a reason for some of the more difficult paths. (sigh) So, call me delusional, say I am in denial but believe me, I do know how hard it is and I too hate the ongoing tests and all the suffering, and I cry, but, really, life is so short, just look at that Air France plane that just went down with all those beautiful people on board! Just gone! Aren’t we being continually reminded that there is more to this life than longevity?So, hang tough all you lovely souls, we all have been through much but (and I sometimes need to remind myself of this "moment by moment") *much* is still left. Hey! Today is my 20th wedding anniversary to a real "rock" a man who stood by me all the way and who continues to do so. Aren’t I lucky?  : )

This question got me thinking. I am currently undergoing treatment for Stage III IDC Breast Cancer. I have undergone 16 Chemo treatments, a lumpectomy with node dissection and still have 6 weeks of radiation to go through.  While I was told I was cancer free, I was also told the radiation was to zap any cancerous cells that might be left…

But the question remains, am I cured? Have I had cancer? You’re never cured of cancer, you’re merely in remission. It can come back and rear it’s ugly head at any time. So the question in my opinion should have been, Are you in treatment for Cancer or are you in remission?