Cancer Sucks

For a good friend who just found out it is back

Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash

The first time around it sucks

But you talk to the doctor

They tell you not to worry

You try not to, at least not too much

The arrival of cancer is followed

By treatments meant to kill

The cells that grow all too fast

In all the wrong places

Some days all you can hope is to survive

The day you go into remission

Your heart lifts, your friends rejoice

You try to go back to a place of peace

You promise yourself to appreciate

Every day, every word, everyone

The day cancer comes back

Your brain reels

Your stomach clenches

You realize how “lucky” you are

That they found it, caught it again

The day you told we friends, “It is back”

They stumble and cry with you

They send you hope and love

We all hope it isn’t going to end

With the loss of you, my friend