How I Accidently Become my Friend's Cancer Treatment
A good friend suffered from stage 1 breast cancer. During her treatment, we would always hang out for coffee. We shared many good laughs. She is now free from cancer.
It was only recently I learned that during her treatment, she refused to see anyone including her family members. The only exception is meeting up with me. I am not aware of her decision as we never discussed about her feelings or her treatment. She explained that during that dark period I was the only person who treated her like a normal person. When we catch up for coffee, we would talk about anything under the sun except her sickness. She particularly loves my dirty jokes. She has reached the age that no one tells her dirty jokes anymore. During our coffee sessions, she can forget about her illness and live like a normal person.
Her body was sick but not her mind. Nearly everyone in her life could not differentiate it. Whenever she is with her family and friends, she felt helpless and suffocated. She just wants to scream, I am normal and I am feeling fine. The attention is too much for her.
I did not think much about our interactions. My intention of seeing her is to hang out and making sure she is okay. I am not a doctor, and I do not like to probe into her family matter. I am just good at spewing verbal rubbish and that's what I did. I did not know that I have become part of her recovery treatment.
It is a profound lesson. It is the body that is sick, not the mind. When you talk to a person. Do you talk to the body or the mind?