It's taken me 24 hours to write this down as I am still in shock.
My auntie is an energetic lady of 72 who still works part time as a district nurse.
She has always been in really good health but went to her GP recently about headaches. They had been waking her in the mornings for a few weeks and she wanted some advice.
Her GP was concerned about them waking her up and did some neuro tests on her which were mostly fine. However, he wasn't happy and suspecting a bleed in the brain sent her to the hospital. They did a scan there which showed a mass in the frontal lobe of her brain.
The "mass" which has turned out to be a tumour has now been removed and they "got most of it" but she will need radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The consultant has now told my cousins that the cancer is an aggressive one which will recur - he has actually left space for it to re-grow. He has told my aunt that he can't prevent it recurring and that it will eventually kill her. The treatment is to try and slow the rate at which it will re-occur and buy her some time. He has told my cousin though that the average length of time from diagnosis to death (even with treatment) is 14 months.
I cannot believe that my beloved auntie will die so soon. I know I have time to say my goodbyes etc but it all seems so unfair. She still has so much to give to society and life.
Even worse is that my other auntie who is 74 has been battling cancer for the past 3 years. Hers is more slow growing though and she is living with it (although it cannot be cured). My Mum is in bits as these are her two remaining siblings - my Uncle died from lung cancer aged 65 (but had chain smoked 60 fags a day from age 15 which might well explain the lung cancer).
It's crap - I mean just what is the fucking point of life? My auntie has aleways looked after her health, never smoked, always eaten healthily and maintained a healthy weight. All this healthy eating and exercise cobblers has not helped her one jot because at 72 and with lots still to offer she is dying. I know cancers are less likely if you live as healthily as she has but honestly it's made not a sod of difference to her.
The older I get the more I am convinced that life is mapped out for you so just go and live the life you want - eat, drink and be merry because if you are meant to die from cancer then you will.
Am so sad and fed up about it. Haven't had any wine since Xmas but have drunk two glasses this evening and am feeling them.