2. Things Fall Apart; The Center Can No Longer Hold!

Though we’ve heard and were even aware that Covid19 is real somewhere else but not around us yet (in our country, state, and neighbourhood), we lived our regular lives. We went to work and market freely without fear, no social distancing, no masks, and no gloves. Shared warmth with hugs, pecks, and handshakes. Enjoyed breathing unfiltered air and standing next to a loved one, work colleague, a friend or stranger.

Then Covid19 suddenly arrived, and our loving human interactions, culture, way of living has fallen apart. The new normal is not friendly; it is not our way of life. The pandemic has split through the centre or core of our social life. Our lives are currently revolving around this pandemic. We no longer go out like we used to. We must wear a face mask. Social distancing is the order of the day—no more hugs and handshakes. Things fell apart, and the centre could no longer hold.

This is the same way it is with cancer patients when they’re diagnosed. At the initial stage of diagnosis, many patients allow their lives to revolve around the ailment. There are moderate actions to severe lifestyle modifications that occur in people diagnosed with COVID-19 or Cancer, such as a change in diet, prioritizing what is important, becoming more knowledgeable of the condition, and a whole lot of things.

3. Covid-19 and Cancer cripple many things.

Due to our unpreparedness for the coming of Covid19, it crippled almost everything: crippled the world economy and countries’ economies. We’re throwing a lot of money into curbing and treating this illness. It kept the world on lockdown. We’re not able to even go to work. Instead, we found another means of getting things done, which is online working, which doesn’t work for most people.

This is the same way it is with cancer patients. There is a rollercoaster of negative emotions and confusion which paralyzes routine activities. They can’t go everywhere they used to go before or don’t enjoy doing so. They won’t have a lot of friends anymore, as many of them will withdraw from them. Well, they’ll be withdrawn too because Cancer is not something they are glad to have. The family will spend all they have on the treatment—pumping a lot of money into chemotherapy treatment and even their expensive diet. Cancer cripples their lives, and that’s why they feel like it’s the end of the world for them.

4. The God Experience

When people realize that they have a scary health condition, they get closer to God or start questioning God. Why them? Aren’t they faithful enough to him? They’ll remind God they’ve been serving him for ages past. One’s conversations with God starts to fluctuate: from anger, confidence, depression to everything else. Many people hold on to God with endurance, patience, and hope.

Uncertainties and hope: This pandemic and Cancer has brought so many uncertainties, and this period is a historic period. The world has not been stopped right in its tracks.

There’s light at the end of the tunnel.

This is the hope part of every hardship we pass through in life. No matter what’s happening, we hold on to that hope and faith that everything is going to be alright soon.

We are hoping that Covid19 will be curtailed soon, and the incidence of new cases will begin to decline. Across many nations, the lockdown is been eased, and people are attempting to pick up their lives from pause mode. The pandemic has taken many good things away from us, But we see life from new lenses- we have realized the importance of community spirit, cleanliness, spending time with one’s family, and indeed, has brought a lot of families together.

This is the juncture that people living with cancer  believe they can fight this disease and come out as survivors. We hope that they can get to that point where chemotherapy, radiotherapy is a historical event, and follow up visits are reduced to once a year.

Many times, this pays off, and we sincerely hope with them too. We sincerely hope that this illness will pass and pray that the affected ones will be healed.

Still, got questions or need further clarification? Please drop it in the comment box or chat with our oncologists and psychologists directly. We would love to hear from you.

Thank you for joining us on this adventure of reflection. Until next time #Keep Safe

Loads of Love

xo xo

Oncopadi cares