Five has always been a good number for me. My friend, Helene, tells me that five represents travel and adventure. Others link the number to motion and movement. Regardless of a deeper meaning, here’s what I know about the number five today. Five years ago this morning I woke up as a cancer patient, and five years ago tonight I went to sleep a cancer survivor.
If you can have a good experience with cancer, I did. Give or take a few healing issues with my anemic body following surgery, the process was fairly uneventful. Thanks to an excellent medical staff, good insurance coverage, and a job with ample sick leave benefits the technical parts of the disease were easily managed. The cancer was surgically removed negating the need for chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Pam who is wonderful in five million ways made sure the home front was taken care of. She fed me, chauffeured me to countless doctor’s appointments, worried over me, and loved me as only a partner can. Her support was and is invaluable. Recovery took a few weeks, but I was able to return to work and school pretty much on schedule.
After surgery the new goal was five, as in five years. At the five-year mark, if I had experienced no recurrence of the cancer, then I would be deemed cured. After two years, the chances of recurrence dropped significantly, but the five-year mark is the golden ring (every pun intended). So here I sit after five years typing my relief in a hodgepodge of emotions. On December 14 (if anyone is counting 1 plus 4 equals 5) I’ll get the official exam and five-year endorsement. Until the official results come in let’s just keep celebrating the number five. Cheers.
