I realized the other day that my last post, for those that don’t know me, may have sounded a little like I was looking for sympathy.  This whole ‘blogging’ thing is a little disconcerting since I am now putting myself and my writing out to the world instead of just the group of e-mail recipients it once was. I certainly did not mean “oh look, poor me, I still have cancer” it was just a jumping off point from my daughter’s comment in an attempt to explain how being diagnosed with cancer changes you forever.

That being said I also realized that it must be a similar feeling for those with heart disease.  I suppose if you live with a compromised heart you would always be worrying about having a heart attack or be concerned when you overexert yourself. Actually any chronic disease would be the same.  Those with asthma, I am sure, always think about it and worry about having an attack. 

So I guess I have just entered into a world where thousands of people have already resided.  So many deal daily with their own pain or disease, sometimes having to make compromises and adjustments. I am no different, just newly aware. This is one more gift I can say cancer has given me — a new understanding and appreciation for others suffering.

Also, for those of you wondering; the 2 cysts under my arm were just cysts, nothing else. Yippee. Although I ripped the stitches while swimming last week and got hollered at by Dr. Christian’s assistant, Charlotte. “YOU WENT SWIMMING?!”  Well, in my defense, the doctor told me to wait a week, and I did wait a week…to the day.  Oh well, there is nothing they can do now, the nurse said it’s just going to take a lot longer to heal and I will have a nasty scar. That’s fine —  I am racking up quite an array of cool battle scars these days.