For the Birds

I almost get giddy with excitement when I see lots of birds at my bird feeders or hear them chattering in the trees.  After this freaking long winter, sure signs of spring are most welcome.  I had told my brother-in-law, Bob D., about this and he told me I needed to clarify this for my sister because she would not believe him if he said something about it.  So, of course, next time my sister was over I did as instructed and clarified that I really, really like my bird feeders and watching the birds clustering around them.  She just kind of shook her head and said, “Birdwatching.  It seems like something old people do.”

I told her I didn’t mean to be morbid, but when faced with the possibility of not getting to be an old person – growing old took on a whole new positive meaning.  

There was an excellent article in the New York Times Magazine section today.  It was written by Peggy Orenstein and titled, “Our Feel Good War on Breast Cancer.”  It set out some sobering truths about propaganda around early detection, and explained about the vastly different types of breast cancer and how the prognosis is more based on the kind of cancer versus when it is detected.  This is not to say that early detection is not good, but there are some very non-aggressive cancers that don’t do much of anything but just sit there and that don’t require a ticket on the panic ridden cancer train.  And, of course, there are some kinds of cancer that even if caught early, are aggressive and require the whole arsenal of treatments.  I fall in that second category.

Orenstein’s article also cited some hardcore numbers. “Nearly 40,000 women and 400 men die every year of breast cancer.” (Lynn Erdman, vice president of community health at Komen)

One hundred and eight American women die of breast cancer each day.  Tough numbers but not necessarily numbers that frighten me.  It is my hope that these numbers motivate funders and researchers to find better ways of treating breast cancer and other cancers. 

Because of strides made in these areas in the last ten years my prognosis is excellent.  Herceptin (immunotherapy for HER 2+ breast cancer) and Tamoxifen (an estrogen blocker for Estrogen + breast cancer) are my friends.  

Orenstein, speaking of her positive prognosis after her breast cancer returned and was treated, says, “Again, that means I should survive, but there are no guarantees; I won’t know for sure whether I am cured until I die of something else — hopefully many decades from now, in my sleep, holding my husband’s hand, after a nice dinner with the grandchildren.” 

I love that image.  I too will not know if all I am going through is worth it, and if I will be “cured,” until I die of something else – hopefully many decades from now, in my sleep, holding my husband’s hand, after a nice dinner on the deck with the grandchildren.  Watching all the birds at the bird feeders.