The Actual Dance as a play presents the events of the year 2000 from my point of view as the spouse of the woman going through breast cancer. Now, seventeen years later, it is apparent that I did not fully understand how deeply the experience impacted me. It took me 12 years to write the story, so to speak, and the last nearly 5 years I have been telling it through performances of the play. Every October I blog daily to help in raising awareness and to share elements of the story that I hope are of value to those who read these blogs. (All quoted lines are text from the play.)
Day 29: Is That Them Playing? “Even today, October 29, 2017, I listen. I listen with my heart where my love sits for the ever so slight change in the balance of the universe that would indicated a new and different orchestra has been called to form. Is that them playing?”
Susan is alive and well today. Her diagnosis, surgery and chemotherapy occurred between April 2000 and May 2001. During that time her prognosis varied with differing and often inconsistent test results. Following the active treatment process, she was checked every three months for the first year, then every six months for five years and then annually for about another five years. About 5 years ago her oncologist released her as a patient.
I have learned that Susan and I experience her survival differently. Even today, 17 years later, I wonder if whatever pain or ache she has is a sign that it is back. The play ends with that emotion of an always wondering, listening for the possibility that it has come back. It is expressed by “Is that them Playing.”
Susan on the other hand always tries to assure me that she does not have cancer. Our different approach is best expressed in this video called “Our Story.” Check it out. It is our resource of the Day.
Stat of the Day: As of March 2017, there are more than 3.1 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.
Task of the Day: Write your own story. If you are a caregiver or a person who has had cancer, write down your own story. Then seek out a local theater or story telling group and read it out loud, and then maybe you too can become a playwright.
Resource of the Day: Voices of Survivors. What do others say about their survivorship? Here are some web resources: Voices of Survivors , Becky Olson, Celebrity Survivors And a website all about cancer survivorship.
The Actual Dance: Performances. Donate.
Day 29: Is That Them Playing? “Even today, October 29, 2017, I listen. I listen with my heart where my love sits for the ever so slight change in the balance of the universe that would indicated a new and different orchestra has been called to form. Is that them playing?”
Susan is alive and well today. Her diagnosis, surgery and chemotherapy occurred between April 2000 and May 2001. During that time her prognosis varied with differing and often inconsistent test results. Following the active treatment process, she was checked every three months for the first year, then every six months for five years and then annually for about another five years. About 5 years ago her oncologist released her as a patient.
I have learned that Susan and I experience her survival differently. Even today, 17 years later, I wonder if whatever pain or ache she has is a sign that it is back. The play ends with that emotion of an always wondering, listening for the possibility that it has come back. It is expressed by “Is that them Playing.”
Susan on the other hand always tries to assure me that she does not have cancer. Our different approach is best expressed in this video called “Our Story.” Check it out. It is our resource of the Day.
Stat of the Day: As of March 2017, there are more than 3.1 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.
Task of the Day: Write your own story. If you are a caregiver or a person who has had cancer, write down your own story. Then seek out a local theater or story telling group and read it out loud, and then maybe you too can become a playwright.
Resource of the Day: Voices of Survivors. What do others say about their survivorship? Here are some web resources: Voices of Survivors , Becky Olson, Celebrity Survivors And a website all about cancer survivorship.
The Actual Dance: Performances. Donate.
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