On cancer and "toughness"

[TNNurse]

37. OK, breast cancer survivor here.

I was not brave, I was not tough. I took the treatment recommended and I survived. It was not the kind of situation which gives little hope.

Glioblastoma is much bigger than what I had. The treatment is not as physically harsh, the pills do not give the side effects that other chemos do. But the effects of a brain tumor are much more debilitating. There are 20 year or more breast cancer survivors, pretty sure no one lives that long after this kind of tumor.

I have a life long side effect in lymphedema in my arm. I do therapy for it, I have weight limits on lifting and I have issues buying clothes because one arm is a little larger than the other. But my brain is pretty much intact and I expect to live a normal life span.

I would not wish cancer on anyone no matter how much I dislike or disagree with them.