Learning How to Live with My Body After Getting Sick
Poor people don't get sick!
Perhaps I was only able to pride myself on that because I was young.
Even in my annual health checkups, there was never anything wrong with me,
so I couldn't believe at all that I would ever get sick.
Then, to my surprise, it was breast cancer.
It was truly a bolt from the blue.
There was a large, painful lump I could feel when I touched it.
Thinking this was bad, I rushed to the hospital and underwent CT scans, MRIs, and cell tests.
The decision was made to "have surgery."
That is what happened.
When I heard the doctor's words, I felt like I had expected it.
However, I also thought,
This is ridiculous!
But this is no time to be discouraged!
I figured if I just had the surgery and cut it out, I would get better.
That is how I ended up on the operating table, and I was discharged a week later.
Even so, not all the cancer cells were removed,
and since then, I have been receiving radiation therapy and taking hormone medication.
Furthermore, there are abnormalities in my pancreas, and I also have a tumor in my brain, although it is benign.
I wouldn't go so far as to call it a department store,
but this is a supermarket of illnesses.
If that's the case, I thought I might as well be positive about my treatment,
and I faced my tumors one after another.
These are the doctors I will be dealing with for a long time to come.
I always meet them with a smile, trying to build a good relationship at every visit.
I read the doctor's expressions,
and tell myself that there is probably nothing to worry about.
I am spending my days like this,
but when I was discharged, I was told to be careful about my diet.
After all, health seems to be about diet and stress.
Reduce stress as much as possible,
and be careful about what I eat.
If I were to add one more thing, it would be exercise.
I have a dog at home, so as long as it isn't raining,
I try to go for walks.
However, my dog is old and gets out of breath when we get home,
so I must not overdo it.
Since we are both old, we enjoy slow walks,
and that concludes our daily exercise.
I know this isn't enough,
but I cannot put a burden on my old dog.
I am also much more careful about my diet compared to before.
I love vegetables and dislike meat, but I make sure to get protein
and never skip salads.
I keep thinking of new menu ideas, hoping this will help me maintain my health.
I never imagined I would get cancer, and
it is still hard to believe, but you never know what might happen to a person at any time.
I truly realized that.
Because I am poor, I eat only things that are nutritious yet cheap, like natto, tofu, and bean sprouts,
so I thought there was no way I would ever get sick.
It seems that was a naive way of thinking.
That was a naive assumption.
Eating.
I have been made to realize just how important this really is.
Now then, what shall be on the menu today?
Healthy meals made for my family and for myself.
Thinking about the dishes that will line the table,
I pick up the kitchen knife again today.
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