Think positive

"Among those whom I like or admire. I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh."

W. H. Auden

I WAS diagnosed with breast cancer on December 19, 1994. It was my youngest son Brooks' birthday and only days before the festive holiday season in the United States. On December 20, exactly two years from the day of my original diagnosis, I experienced what doctors refer to as an "abnormal exam".

Abnormal as in "not quite normal" or abnormal as in "uh, oh ... here we go again?" I asked, as the nurse started placing calls for an immediate MRI. That afternoon, the MRI confirmed the "abnormalities," not only in my original place of surgery but in a secondary location as well. "We will do a mammogram," they said, and off I went for more testing. And more "abnormalities."

As I was being wheeled into surgery for a biopsy a few weeks later, I looked at my surgeon and said, "You know, cancer reminds me a lot of Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is powerful, it takes over the entire room when it enters, and you never know when it's going to say: I will be back!" I was struggling with all the emotions I had experienced two years before: anger, confusion, denial and grief. But through it all, there surfaced one particular emotion which kept rising to the top, that made it all possible; that helped to see me through: Hope.

I realised that if I did have cancer again, I had what it takes to get through the process. I had the power of the letter "P". There was the power of the people: my family, my friends, my staff and co-workers. There was the power of the physicians, and this time I knew them better, trusted them, knew how they operated.

I had the power of prayer - that my faith could help me to understand why this was happening to me again. I had the power of my passion: to spread the word of joy and laughter despite the obstacles we all have in our everyday lives to overcome. But most importantly, the greatest "P" of all: I had the power of positive thinking.

My biopsy came back benign. The experience only reinforced to me that every day, every moment, is a gift to embrace, cherish and share.

To all of us - the patients, survivors, family, friends, employers and caregivers who are living with cancer - never let go of the thing that makes getting up everyday worth living for: the gift of hope. So enjoy the holiday season.

Treasure the memories of years gone by. I know I will be celebrating my sixth-year of being a cancer survivor. Remember your blessings. And oh, by the way, "don't forget to laugh!"

CHRISTINE CLIFFORD

The writer is CEO and president of The Cancer Club. She is the author of two award-winning books entitled Not Now ... I'm Having a No Hair Day: Humor and Healing for People with Cancer and Our Family Has Cancer, Too!

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