Dear Cancer

By Rita Pamplin

Cancer. It's a word that affects us all. We all know someone who has fought cancer and won, or fought cancer and lost.

 

This book is one way Rita Pamplin is fighting back. Her letters have kept her motivated. Now she's ready to share them with the world in hope that others fighting the good fight can gain some hope, wisdom, and encouragement from someone who's been there.

 

With real and raw emotions, Rita takes you on the journey with her. And when you're finished reading, you'll realize that words do have power, some people never give up, and the most amazing strength can come from those battling the worst war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rita Pamplin
• Release date: May 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393625247

Book preview

Dear Cancer

A Collection of Letters from One Woman’s Fight

Rita Pamplin

Dear Cancer

1. A Note from the Editor

The Beginning

Letter One

Letter Two

Letter Three

Letter Four

Letter Five

Letter Six

Letter Seven

Letter Eight

Letter Nine

Letter Ten

Letter Eleven

Letter Twelve

Letter Thirteen

Letter Fourteen

Letter Fifteen

Letter Sixteen

Letter Seventeen

Letter Eighteen

Letter Nineteen

Letter Twenty

Letter Twenty-One

Letter Twenty-Two

Letter Twenty-Three

Letter Twenty-Four

Letter Twenty-Five

Letter Twenty-Six

Letter Twenty-Seven

Letter Twenty-Eight

Letter Twenty-Nine

Letter Thirty

Letter Thirty-One

Letter Thirty-Two

Letter Thirty-Three

Letter Thirty-Four

Letter Thirty-Five

Letter Thirty-Six

Letter Thirty-Seven

Letter Thirty-Eight

Letter Thirty-Nine

Letter Forty

Letter Forty-One

Letter Forty-Two

Letter Forty-Three

Letter Forty-Four

Letter Forty-Five

Letter Forty-Six

Letter Forty-Seven

Letter Forty-Eight

Letter Forty-Nine

Letter Fifty

Letter Fifty-One

Letter Fifty-Two

Letter Fifty-Three

Letter Fifty-Four

Letter Fifty-Five

About the Author

2. Aknowledgements

Copyright © Rita Pamplin 2020 All rights reserved. Dear Cancer©

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Rita Pamplin has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

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Editing by Magnolia Author Services

Cover Art by Sweet 15 Designs

Formatted by Magnolia Author Services

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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author.

Vellum flower icon Created with Vellum

To inspire, educate, heal, and help not only myself, but others fighting cancer

A Note from the Editor

This book showcases Rita Pamplin’s courage and determination against cancer, and I’m honored she chose me to edit for her.

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While I did correct most grammar errors, I didn’t touch the letters themselves. These are Rita’s words, Rita’s thoughts, the way she wanted them recorded.

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I mention this because some of you may notice odd phrasing or the like. This is called chemo brain, and it affects many cancer patients.

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I encourage you to read through to the true meaning of the letters and get to know the amazing woman behind them.

The Beginning

The Beginning

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It all started with constant pain on my side. I finally, after several weeks of it not going away, made an appointment for March 28. It was just few days after my birthday.

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Well, she said it wasn’t any of the things she thought, but it could be diverticulitis, and I was pit p antibiotics for ten days. She also set up an appointment a GI doctor. She said, "Oh no, I’m not doing a colonoscopy on you. If you have that I could injure you with the scope.

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So off I went to have a CT scan and drank that barium stuff. People described it as drinking chalk, but I guess it has been vastly improved since then, because I didn’t find it to be that awful. It had a vanilla taste with a hint of medicine, and by the time I drank all required, my belly was full. I suppose it’s meant to make you feel that way so the test comes out right.

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A few days later, I went back for the results, and I will remember the day for the rest of my life. The doctor walked in the room, put my chart down, and turned to me with that look upon her face. You know; like, Yeah, I’m about to tell you some bad news.

We didn’t find diverticulitis, but you have a tumor in your bladder.

Wait. What? I asked in shock.

She said,I’ve already made you an appointment with urologist for Friday April 12 th at 2:45. You are going, right?

I responded, Hell yes, I am!! I knew in my heart that I had cancer.

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Cancer wasn’t diagnosed, but sometimes we can sense things off in our own bodies. Leaving the office, checking out still feeling like I was in a nightmare and hadn’t woken up yet, the receptionist said, Well I hope they caught it in time. Um, what? w all I said and left. Walking to the car, I began to cry uncontrollably. I was thinking of my daughter graduating in June and knew I had to be there, no matter what. My head was spinning, I had just turned 52; I was too young.

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What? Why? How? When? was all the questions which I had no answers for at the time.

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Wiping my tears, taking a few deep breaths, grasping the steering wheel, I slow drove home. Honestly, I don’t even know how I got there; it was a blur. I didn’t want to tell the kids, but knew I needed to so I told them. They didn’t say much. They cried said, Well, hopefully all will be okay.

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I told them, Well I know you all don’t pray, but just send good thoughts my way. I also know your mom is tough. I will beat this, and I am not going to die.

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Because many people associate cancer with death.

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Did I honestly believe that? Hell no; I just had to hide my fear from the kids, but I’m sure they could see right through me on that one.

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Friday came, and I went doctor, where they did some blood work and urine check for cancer. Nothing. So they sent me for another cat scan, then the following week I went for the scope. I had surgery literally a week later, on April 22, 2019. For me, this sucked because my daughter's 18 th birthday was literally 4 days later Ugh!

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As I entered the operating room, I saw everyone doing al of their usual stuff. I had a million papers to sign, blood pressure checks, medication questions, verify allergies, etc. I changed into a gown and those lovely no-slip socks. Then they put the I.V in my arm, and I wasn’t really trying to look at it honestly.

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As they walked me back to the operating room, I was unusually calm for a surgery, but I had faith and knew I wanted the Bitch out (this what I called my tumor) laying on the table.

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All I remember is the talk of Easter dinner, and I could literally smell and taste the food—or maybe it was the anesthesia kicking in, they don’t even have you count backwards from 10 anymore—(I remember those days, do you?) they just say ok, it’s coming and bam. I was out.

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Next thing I know, I woke up saying Is she gone? And the answer was yes! The doctor said he didn’t think it was cancer, but they sent it out for pathology, anyway, so now goes the waiting game. It was a rough ride home, felt every bump in the road, movement of the car, was groggy as hell! Pain med’s wearing off, the pain was excruciating from the surgery and the stint put in my kidney, which hurt like the devil!

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Well…. fast forward three weeks later, because of my insurance for some reason couldn’t be sent my doctor’s pathology department, so it got sent to North Carolina after much frustration from my doctor and me. It finally got sent to Hopkins, where after only three days to come back as cancer—high grade, not officially diagnosed, but was there finally!! For a person with a looming diagnosis, all the waiting can feel like an eternity, leaving you unsure and mentally disturbed.

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Well, so for me there another appointment. No scope, my doctor said; he wasn’t satisfied with the first diagnosis and needed to go in again and do another biopsy. (This is protocol.)

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So surgery number two was coming up. (Mind you that it had been six weeks since first surgery, as

Reviews for Dear Cancer

[Jody Keehan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you Rita for being honest and true to your self as you write about your enemy in a way that brings it to life!