Cancer Spans Everything

Cancer brings us together and rips us apart. Cancer knows no boundaries - it crosses race, age, sex, families, and even politics.

Cancer can bring people together. To those with cancer, it is an instant bond to others with the disease. You can walk into a chemo waiting room, a support group, a fundraiser, or whatever. All of us with cancer instantly have something to talk about and unit together. It can join a family who is faced with the impending death of a loved one to repair broken or damaged family bonds.

Cancer can also rip us apart. For those selfish or inconsiderate enough not to care about others, they do not notice that someone is ill and in treatment. It can rip family members apart. I know several couples who split up when a cancer diagnosis hit their family simply because one of them could not handle the stress on their diagnosis.

However, cancer is not a nice thing. It takes people away from their friends and family too soon. It causes all kinds of pain and suffering to the patient.

But we need to remember it can bring us together. We need to remember this. John McCain, as Ted Kennedy did earlier, got up and said its time to work together. What does it take for us to remember cancer has no boundaries.