No. 15   Well-meaning people will tell you, “I looked that up!  If you are going to have cancer, that is a good one to have!” 

No. 14   You get to impress people with your new vocabulary, grasp of genetics and targeted therapies.  I mean, who else talks about a tyrosine kinase, or a tyrosine kinase inhibiter, or the translocation of the abl gene from Chromosome 9 with the bcr gene with Chromosome 22 that creates the Philadelphia Chromosome?   

No. 13   Not only can you brag about how unique you are in having this rare cancer, people at the cocktail party will not believe you when you tell them the cost of your daily targeted chemo.  The Rx price for 30 days of imatinib mesylate (generic for Gleevec) at the Emory Pharmacy is $14,212.72.  No.  That’s not a typo.

No. 12   You get to meet a lot of nice people, make friends, and witness great courage at the cancer center.  Weekly blood draws make you a “regular.” 

No. 11   You now have a new interest on a new subject and can keep up with the latest research on cancer and the search for a cure.

No. 10   You have life-long friends who surface.  Even though James Taylor is from Chapel Hill, you can embrace the song, “You’ve got a friend.”  The words, “I’ll pray for you” have a new impact on you.

No. 9      Holding hands with the love of your life and going on a walk together becomes especially precious.

No. 8      You learn what you should have always known – your children deeply love you and have your back.

No. 7      You get to see your granddaughter take as much delight in your wbc falling as your grandson does in seeing Ozzie Albies hit a home run.

No. 6      You have a lot of those days that Jimmy V described as “a great day.” 

No. 5      There is a profound existential impact to words you’ve frequently said:  The tomb is empty.  This is the day the Lord has made.  This day today is not a dress rehearsal for another day.

No. 4      When you have an embarrassing “senior moment” you can now blame it on “chemo brain.”

No. 3      You are free to give no energy to the superficial.

No. 2      As an Atlanta Braves fan you can take special delight in the fight to eliminate a chromosome named “Philadelphia.” 

No. 1      You can give thanks that you have health insurance.  You can pray for and work towards universal health care for all.  You can give thanks that there are talented people who dedicate their lives to medical oncology and hematology and that there is a global full-court press being put on by scientists, pharmaceutical companies, cancer centers, and generous donors to find a cure for all cancers.  May it come soon!

This was written for everyone who is battling cancer or has a loved one who is.  In the words of the late great Jimmy V, “Don’t give up!  Don’t ever give up!”        

In the abiding hope of the empty tomb,