Every Cancer Has a Story

Every Cancer has a story,
Every story has a voice;
Intertwined in all we speak,
Every Cancer (too) has choice.

Like of what treatment suits our needs,
Which doctors we'll connect with most;
Choices of feeding tubes and ports,
All start when first we're diagnosed.

These options might soon overwhelm,
Could make you feel like you're alone;
A world once viewed as pretty "norm",
Quickly downshifts to the unknown.

Some days it plays on the surreal,
Too many often kick our gut;
Questions bombarding day and night,
Not one of them presents clear-cut.

Slowly a disconnection forms,
But isolation keeps us safe;
A vortex where you feel quite stuck,
Between what may, (or not) take place.

Still, every story of survival,
Are, of themselves, each quite unique;
You see, there's not one other soul,
Who's lived your strength used to defeat.

Now this is simply a perspective,
One of a woman's silhouette;
Her purpose shines through blackened pain,
Though she has not quite seen it yet.

'Cause God is the lone sole survivor,
Who knows what will, or won't, ensue;
His plan, for every voice be heard,
Connect, and heal our hearts anew.

This poem won first place for the February 2025 poetry contest