Cancer. I Hate It…
My husband and I are filling out paperwork for a new life insurance policy, and I just had to answer questions about my parents. Now I am feeling somber.Â
My father died two years ago from lung cancer. He was only 54 years old. The disease took him in less than four months. It was absolutely the worst thing anyone could watch a loved one go through. It was and still is heartbreaking.
I am not the kind of person to nag others about smoking. Everyone has a choice. My dad was a smoker. I even dabbled from time to time. I was what you would call a casual smoker, the kind that only lit up when I was out having drinks with friends. But, that changed when my dad died. After seeing what the cancer did to his body and spirit, I could no longer put a cigarette to my mouth.
What I fear most is that people who smoke and don’t experience the devastation it can cause first-hand, will never think twice. Out of sight, out of mind. But, if you saw the tumors my father had when he was sick, the swollen feet, the gaunt face, yellow skin and sad eyes, you just might change your mind. Would you want to see your father or mother or anyone you truly loved like that? I didn’t, but I had no choice.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women, according to the National Cancer Institute. The survival rate is low. And, if that’s not enough to scare anyone, think about this. It’s estimated that more than 215,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer this year alone, and nearly 162,000 will die.
Anyone who really knows me, knows that I am a passionate person. While I will not throw rants about how bad smoking is for you in your face, I will say this… spare your loved ones from having to plan your funeral or you might as well count yourself already dead.Â
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