Jackie Hansen-Smith
Sep 1, 2018 · 1 min read

Cancer, the gift that keeps on giving!

I look at my scars and say which one do I resent the most. My port-a-cath scar. That is the one for me that seemed the most intrusive, it represented Cancer. The others were just operations, easily defined as that. But why do you need a port -a-Cath, for one purpose only, to deliver drugs directly in to your body. Life saving drugs yes, but drugs just the same, drugs with side affects, drugs that save your life but rob you of life at the same time.

I got that port-a-Cath removed as soon as i could. This was to the dismay of the nurses at the hospital where my Herceptin was administered, why would I do that? Because it meant I had Cancer!

I choose not to see myself as a victim of this disease, never have! I was unlucky, yes. Am I a survivor, most certainly!

So now, where am I at nearly 3 years on from diagnosis? Surgery, 16 rounds of chemo, 25 rounds of radiotherapy, 17 rounds of Herceptin, Tamoxifen, 5 broken ribs, overies removed, Eximestane every day for the next 7 years, 6monthly infusions to increase bone density, and doing ok.

Sounds like a big deal I guess. Am I happy…yes. Making the most of life..yes. Grateful for the wonderful people around me…most certainly.

Advice, not that I am qualified to give advice! Love, forgive, be grateful, fight, be angry, sad, determined! Most of all love.

Jackie Hansen-Smith

Written by

Facilitator, Teacher, Cancer Advocate