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Old 07-19-2011, 09:23 PM   #1
Paula O
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'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

I saw a little poem about what cancer can't do (but can't find it--anybody have it?) I think I got a copy from the American Cancer Society perhaps. I thought maybe we could come up with some things ourselves...wanna join me thinking through some things cancer CAN'T do:

-It can't rob us of making the most of every day: even the hard days after chemo can have splashes of joy in them.

-Cancer is very weak compared to the love we share with family and friends.
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Old 07-20-2011, 02:46 AM   #2
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

>wanna join me thinking through some things cancer CAN'T do:


--Even though cancer is a nightmare, it CAN'T take away all my hopes and dreams for the future

--Even though the treatment of cancer has taken away my hair and that's been hard for me, it CAN NOT take away a genuine smile on my face because God is always up to something good in my life

--It CAN'T MAKE ME have a "victim's mentality": I CAN grow to be a stronger and more compassionate person through this (and grow in many other ways)
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Old 07-20-2011, 04:17 PM   #3
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

I found the poem on the American Cancer Society's website. The author is unknown.

"Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit."
-------------------------------

Here's two more I thought of tonite:

Cancer CAN'T take away the song in my heart and on my lips that praises God for His goodness, faithfulness, and love.

Cancer can't take away my sense of humor UNLESS I let it. I will not let it rob me of laughter.
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Old 07-23-2011, 04:00 AM   #4
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

Cancer is a very ugly thing but it can't take away all the beautiful things that we CAN still enjoy.


I really love working in my lttle garden but was too sick to clear out the jungle it had become, plant it, weed it, water it, or pick from it most of the time this year. My sister and daughters did it for me.

I've been enjoying the veggies and lovely flowers and the ability I have right now to help care for this cheery, bright spot of beauty and have a new sesnse of gratefulness and appreciation. There were so many big and small blessings I took for granted before cancer....

Paula
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Old 07-23-2011, 02:23 PM   #5
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

Cancer can't stop me from watching the birds in the back yard through my kitchen window. Mid morning I saw one (mocking bird?) selecting a ripe fig and gnawing on it. In less than a minute, the fig disappeared from the twig...
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Old 09-09-2011, 03:11 PM   #6
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Talking Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

Cancer cannot stop me from smiling and saying Hi to those I greet,ng to improve their day as well as my own.

Cancer cannot stop my faith that Jesus knows exactly what I am going through and that He is going through it with me right this very moment.

Cancer cannot stop my having a positive attitude about today.

Cancer cannot stop me from enjoying hearing from my friends.

Cancer cannot stop me from loving - family, friends, nature, animals, sunshine, rain, snow or anything else.

Cancer cannot stop me from being an optimist. It will not make me a pessimist. kathyG/Queazy
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Old 09-09-2011, 03:48 PM   #7
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

I liked your additions, Jackie and Kathy.

Cancer can't make me a grouchy grump even if I am feeling very sick and miserable. The choice to have a good attitude, a sweet spirit, and to rise above my circumstances is mine.

Paula
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Old 12-28-2011, 10:08 AM   #8
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

Continuing some “Cant’s” of cancer:

Cancer can’t get me down unless I let it. I must not let it. I will not let it.

Cancer can’t take away the happy memories that will always be mine to cherish. I can make some lovely new ones too that cancer can’t touch.

Some “Cans” of cancer:

Cancer can introduce me to an amazing sisterhood of fellow breast cancer survivors as well as other courageous people fighting other battles. Cancer has already flung open the doors of my world and invited some beautiful new friends into my life and will continue to do so.

Cancer can take away my hair, but only for a season. It was temporary. It’s growing back. Even though it is not returning in the color I had and would have never chosen for myself unless I was much older than I am .. There is always hair dye if I want. It is my very own hair again, only softer and I appreciate having hair more than ever. It’s comfortable and not hot and itchy like a wig. It’s going to grow long enough that I’ll need to comb it again, yeah!!! Men who loose their hair as they age don’t get a new crop to replace what fell out like I have the privilege of getting. Three cheers for hair! Hip, hip, hooray for hair! Thank You God for hair on my head and for returning eyelashes and eyebrows! Too bad armpit and leg hair grows so well despite chemo. Ha!

Cancer can (and is) making me into a person that is leaning harder on God, seeking Him more, resting deeper in His love, who is stronger in the strength of the Lord.

Cancer can make me a more compassionate person with many new experiences under my belt that allow me the blessing of being able to “be there” for others going through similar circumstances.


Do you guys have any to add?

Paula
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Old 08-31-2012, 04:14 AM   #9
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

I was poking around some of my old journalling through chemo in my blog, remembering the contrast of what last summer was like to this year. Wow, the journey through life with cancer sure is tough sometimes, huh? I see I have some additions there for the "Can'ts of Cancer" that aren't here in this old thread. I think it is empowering to think through some of the limits of cancer and what it can't do. Hope it's helpful to others here as it was was me to do.

Anybody have more "cans and can'ts" to add to my running list? If you do, I'd love to hear them.

Here's mine I still plan to add to from time to time:
http://jpoliver.com/wordpress/archives/281

Paula
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Old 11-04-2012, 05:56 AM   #10
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

Cancer will not break up my family which is the most precious thing on earth to me....
It cant it wont because I wont let it......


Geetanjali,daughter of Gaver,one of the strongest women I have had the utter honour of being born to and a cancer fighter !!!!
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Old 02-18-2013, 12:09 PM   #11
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

Cancer cannot stop me from teaching others the importants in every day life.
Cancer cannot stop me from loving my girls every day and showing them that stenght is in the eye of the beholder!
Cancer cannot stop me from living my life by doing what I love such as skiing, knitting, reading and teaching my grade six class!
Cancer cannot stop me from having an intimate relationship with my husband, the love of my life. LOL
Cancer is only part of me, it does not controle me in anyway...actually I contole it!

Thanks for this post, I truly think this is amazing! We need to do this every day that we live with this crazy sexy disease!
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Old 02-19-2013, 04:57 AM   #12
Paula O
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Re: 'What Cancer CAN'T do..."

I like your additions, Gaver and Michele.

I found it helpful to come up with additional positive affirmations that I personalized for my Her2 battle. It dovetails very nicely with the "Cancer Can'ts" . Here is my running list of "Cancer Fightin' Words" in my blog : http://jpoliver.com/wordpress/archives/688

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