Cancer–I Decide

This is a poem from the book Trilogy of Cancer–the Jolt, the Journey, the Joy. I put it together during my first bout of breast cancer; I filled it with songs written to familiar tunes; poetry; and things to do. Now I’m in my fourth bout with cancer and it still holds true.

—-

I Decide

—

I marched in

halfway through

three months of

treatments and

said with authority

“You said Taxol

would be easier.

It isn’t.”

—

they listened

—

“Today” my voice

was clear. “Today

I want copies of

everything: blood

pressure, temperature,

blood work numbers

everything

—

they gave them 

to me

—

“Today is different”

I told calm doctor

as if he didn’t know

“You tell me if it’s

a ‘go’ for today’s 

treatment

—

but then you need

to sell me again

on why i’m

doing this

—

give me statistics

name my options

say your best judgment

—

and then

then I’ll decide

if it’s a ‘go'”

—

he did that

—

I decided to

keep going

but on that day

I claimed strength

and power and

control

—

I never let go

of them again

For more information about the Trilogy of Cancer: CLICK HERE