Posted on by rdlankes

Personal: Use Cancer

This post is not about libraries, librarianship, or information science. If you are here for that, please skip it.

I am a scholar, a librarian, a father, husband, son, brother, and much more. Yet my public face is deliberately about my professional life. When I posted about my cancer diagnosis it was more an explanation of my cutting back on travel than anything else. However, I have been reading and benefitting from other lymphoma patients’ blogs and I am reminded that while there is an amazing universe of cancer information and support out there already, there is always room to enrich that universe and serve as a portal to it. So, while this blog will not chronicle my personal journey with the disease, I feel obligated to share at least what I am learning on the way.

Here is the only advice I feel qualified to give: use cancer. I don’t mean use it as an excuse to get out of obligations or things you don’t want to do. I don’t mean to use it in like some idealized country song to skydive and bull ride.

I mean use cancer as an excuse to talk to your thirteen year old about his life and get on the floor to build Legos with your ten year old. As a dear friend from my childhood once asked as we were sharing stories of new fatherhood: when did we forget how to just play. Use cancer to learn how to simply play again.

Use cancer to have a date night with your wife even if it is cuddled up in a hospital bed watching basketball and Netflix. Use cancer to sit holding her on the couch instead of the big comfy chair. Use cancer to remind yourself she needs to hear you laugh as well as know why you sigh. Find a song that makes you both cry together.

Use cancer to talk to your mother about God, and your dead father, and her fears and dreams. Realize how scared and angry and helpless and even guilty you would feel if it was your child with lymphoma and realize that is how she is feeling. Use cancer to be a better son.

Use cancer to learn. Learn how your body works and find that brother in law that can explain lymphocytes, platelets, and the reason you are losing your hair. And learn that if he does it while sending you pictures of naked mole rats and asks for pictures of your bruised ass to show to his freshmen biology class at the same time you are truly blessed.

Use cancer to teach. Use it as a way to make people aware of warning signs, yes. But use cancer to teach a friend or colleague how to talk openly about a disease, what questions can’t be answered, what questions are too painful to answer. Teach doctors that patients are more than conditions to treat and that diagnosis are much less painful than uncertainty.

Use cancer to see the best in people. See how nurses can do their job, teach, and comfort at the same time. Use cancer to take the time to realize as the doctor thrusts a steal pin in your hip for a bone marrow biopsy the nurse not only hands the doctor the right needle, but reaches out to hold your hand.

Use cancer to see that you are not alone. That the network of friends and colleagues and family suddenly go from an invisible web to a team that feeds you, comforts you, sits with you in the hospital at 5 am after a double shift, and loves you. See it in the parking attendant who for years you waved at and said goodnight to, one day stops you to ask if you are ok and upon the news of your cancer tells you he’ll be praying for you.

Use cancer to realize that if it is your children, or your work, or that network of family and friends, you will someday leave a legacy. A legacy that can only be built by your actions and decisions. Use cancer to hone that legacy, and act and decide toward what you will leave behind.

I have seen all the cancer slogans, and love them all. “Kick cancer’s ass.” “F@(k cancer.” “Cancer fears me.” I’ve been told that even at the beginning of this journey I am a “cancer survivor.” For me that one seems premature. But I am not a cancer victim. Yes I could die from this or some random virus I get because what little immune system I have left can’t fight it off. But that won’t be my legacy. Dying from cancer will not be my decision, nor will I learn to die. I will not use cancer to give up. Dying from cancer will not make me noble, anymore than a freak mutation of DNA makes me any wiser – unless I use cancer to become so.

73 Replies to “Personal: Use Cancer”

  1. Dave,
    You are, simply, the best. You inspire and challenge me to take time for what’s important in life. You know that you are surrounded by a network of caring colleagues and friends.

  2. Dave, welcome to the brave new world of those of us who try to turn our losses into something meaningful and positive. I am with you, Gisela

  3. For any of us going through difficult personal times, you are an inspiration, a teacher, and a comfort. Thanks, Dave.

  4. David, everything I have read that you have written has made me think, learn, reflect, and hopefully grow as a librarian. This post was the most powerful thought- provoking thing I have read in a while and has helped me grow as a human. Thank you.

  9. Yeah, baby! May be your best statement/post/advice ever. Proud to be your friend.

  10. I like all of your characters (scholar, librarian, father, husband, son, brother,…) merged into one (good man). Nothing else can be more inspiring than knowing that there are people who are ready to fight for the good of humanity. Thank you very much!

  12. Dave

    You are wise. And you are not alone — let us know how we can help you and yours. Keep living brother!

    A.

  13. You inspire me tremendously!! and I keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

  14. This is a beautiful post, Dave. I too have had reasons to realize my sometimes-invisible webs are strong like steel this year. We are lucky, lucky, even in dark days.

    And yes, all of us are out here rooting for you, and feeling grateful for your touch in our lives – even the lightest strands in your web. Love and peace to you and your family, dear man.

  15. My husband died 3 years ago from melanoma. His 5 years of knowing he had cancer were some of his most ‘grounded’ years, according to his own words. Cancer has a lot to teach us when we are too busy to learn in other ways and can be blessing in disguise. Of course I wish we never had had to make that journey but there is much too learn and be thankful for. Cancer families have a special story to share for sure. Thanks so much for sharing your heart.

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