Fighting Like Rhio Did
I am twenty years old and Cancer has never entered my world. My parents are alive. My grandparents, all three sets, are alive and healthy. And, my biggest health need to date was an eight-month run of acne in high school resolved by the widely popularized ointment Proactiv. We twenty- something year old college students, in general, think we are invincible. We stay up late; live on combinations of Red Bull, Starbucks, and whatever fast food we can pay for with the coins picked from the bottom of our purses and the floors of our cars. Then, when we complete exams and turn in research papers, we congratulate ourselves with enough alcohol to numb ourselves into an altered state far away from our “stress” of college, jobs, and the anxiety of whether we can handle what comes next. But, what if we were told that our days are numbered; that we don’t have time to wax and wane philosophical about what we want to do with our futures. That is essentially what James “Rhio” O’Conner was told. I have just finished reading his story, and I am humbled.
James “Rhio” O’Conner, at 61, was diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma. This rare cancer, caused by asbestos exposure, insidiously starts in the membrane that covers the lungs, so by the time you are symptomatic; it has usually reached the second stage. The current reported life expectancy is six months to two years (Bainbridge). Due to that fact that the diagnosis tends to come in later stages, patients will typically receive palliative treatments rather than curative, which serve only to make the patient more comfortable and increase their quality of life rather than cure the disease (“Asbestos.com”).
James was given a year to live, and told by his oncologist to take his wife on a cruise and sign up for hospice care when he gets home ("SurvivingMesothelioma"). Unwilling to accept the sentence given by his doctor, James did his own intense research, created a protocol with the help of various physicians, and lived an additional six years. He researched holistic medicine in addition to traditional modalities, natural supplements, and dietary changes. To me, his actions exemplify the words of Hindu poet Rabindranath Tagore:
“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.”
The question of what I would do if given a diagnosis as dire as the one given James O’Conner is daunting. I would first want to surround myself with the people that have always been a positive influence and have demonstrated a fighting spirit. Gone would be the handful of college friends with the sheltered dispositions that I am sure would not fare well with the news of a terminal illness. Call me selfish, but while I am fighting for my life, I can’t worry about those who might crumble at the site of a tubes coming out of my body or locks of hair dropping at my feet. My parents and family members, a trusted ballet teacher that taught me what self-discipline is all about, and the church teacher that answered all my obnoxious questions during confirmation classes would be my “Emotional Resource Team”. I wouldn’t expect them to tell me which direction to take, just to be a sounding board, a shoulder to cry on, a distraction from the reality of it all.
On the practical front, there are changes that could be put into effect immediately. My class load would be reduced. I would not drop out from school completely. Doing that would be subconsciously telling myself to quit living. Gone would be the Diet Coke for breakfast habit. I don’t need to do research to understand that the ingestion of caramel flavored carbonated water has no true nutritional value to it. As a nonsmoker and regular user of the school gym, I’ve always rationalized that it was a habit that I was entitled. No more excuses.
Like all “Googlephiles”, I would first get online and educate myself on every piece of information my doctor gives me and create a systematic method of organizing all data. Computer files would be sorted by profiles on Oncology specialists, current research on Mesothelioma, testimonies of cancer survivors who have utilized holistic methods, and updates from the FDA. I would shop around for a good support group for people undergoing treatment. And, if it depresses me, I would quit. While I am still here, I am fighting. Organization is a comfort tool for me. I would keep a file of phone numbers with the names of people that I have contacted as part of my research. The more they hear from me, the greater chance of being kept abreast of new changes, and they become a part of my team. There are three web sites that I would likely frequent the most.
The Whitehead Biomedical Research Institute and the A.P John Institute are two centers that focus on molecular biology research. Both centers study, by analysis, the chemical make- up of cancer stem cells. These cancer stem cells are responsible for the aggressive powers of many tumors (Davis). Researchers are applying thousands of compounds against these cells to find which most aggressively work against the cancer stem cells. Institutes like Whitehead and A.P. John are taking unique approaches to combating cancer and are examples of the kind of professional institutions I would want to work with if facing the diagnosis of Mesothelioma (Davis). I would stay updated on new reports from these sites along with data on the recent approval from the FDA on the use of Alimta for advanced stage lung cancer.
I am open to chemotherapy as long as it is with a practitioner that promotes the use of holistic modalities to reduce the side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. Because some vitamins reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs, I would focus on researching dietary changes that would beneficial to my overall health. According the American Cancer Society, during active cancer treatment, the overall goals of nutritional care for survivors should be to prevent or reverse nutrient deficiencies, to preserve lean body mass, and to minimize nutrition-related side effects. I am fortunate that I live in an urban area with several specialty grocers that keep organic foods in stock. Gone would be my attitude of quantity, quantity, quantity. The quality of what I put in my body would be my new mantra and my family would be right on board with me. Not wanting me to feel excluded from their traditional habits, the whole clan would sit right beside me eating organic whey bread and high protein soy based casseroles.
There is a lot of love that surrounds me, and I know it would have a positive impact on fighting against Mesothelioma. The writings of Buddhist monk Pema Chodron and the Dalai Lama support this philosophy. I first read their work in an Intro to Buddhism class taken last semester and I know their work would be a source of comfort and inspiration. Here is the reason why: They both speak of love and its influence on our physical and psychological wellness. Pema Chodron wrote a book called The Places That Scare You: A guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times and in it speaks of opening all your emotions and letting your heart be touched. It is writings like this that would keep me from growing bitter and lazy in my battle against Mesothelioma. There is one other book that I have only perused, but now am curious about since penning the draft for this essay.
Not long ago, while visiting my mother, I noticed a book lying on the kitchen table, My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor. She explained that it was the chosen book at her December book club meeting and it was about a brain scientist who had a stroke and lived to write about the experience. I flipped to the inside of the book cover and glanced at one of the writer’s quotes,
“I've gotten as much out of this experience of losing my left mind as I have in my entire academic career." Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD.
If I were to be given the same diagnosis as Mr. James “Rhio” O’Conner, I would do my best to also get the most out of the journey I was about to embark.
If you would like to learn more about James “Rhio” O’Conner and Mesothelioma please visit www.SurvivingMesothelioma.com.
Essay Word Count: 1,410
Bainbridge, Ross. "Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rate." Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rate . 23 Jun. 2006. EzineArticles, Web. 10 Feb 2010.
Davis, Nicole. "New method takes aim at aggressive cancer cells." www.wi.mit.edu. 13 Aug 2009. Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Web. 13 Feb 2010.
"Mesothelioma Life Expectancy." Asbestos.com. 01 Dec 2009. The Peterson Firm , Web. 13 Feb 2010.
"Mesothelioma Survivor Publishes Book." SurvivingMesothelioma.com. 18 Sep. 2008. Cancer Monthly , Web. 13 Feb 2010.
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