Calm over Panic: Cancer patients understand risk In the time of COVID19

 
fear of covid

Moving away from our individual risk towards what our community/country/world risk is - this is the MOVE we must all make now. Remembering that we are all in this together and that we are interconnected, THIS is what will save us as individuals and will save our families.

Releasing control on our own individual lives is terribly hard. 

Cancer patients know this. When they give up their individuality and do the chemo or radiation that the study statistics say will make them better.

Cancer patients know this. When they distance themselves, stay home, avoid crowds, and wash their hands to stop the spread of disease.

Cancer patients know this. When the world as they knew it: STOPS. 

I spent half the day yesterday - mad as hell - at the people playing soccer across from my home. The more I listened to their cheers and joy, the more angry I became. Then finally, I stopped thinking about ME and that opened up some space to see that none of us have been here before. We’ve never been through a global pandemic before. And it is hard to imagine how a game of soccer could hurt anyone. So, I took some deep breaths and reorganized my pantry.

It is true that cancer patients are one of the most vulnerable to this novel virus. And staying home will help save many vulnerable people’s lives. It is also true we are all releasing our control and are vulnerable right now, in lots of different ways. Our connection is part of our vulnerability but it is also our strength. 

We are all in this together.