Affirm yourself, repay society
Mama Su relates that when she was young, her philosophy of life was to "put gain at the center." Even when she wanted to do something for society, she didn't know how to begin. It was only when she was being wheeled into the operating room that the idea came into her head:"What can I do if I survive?" Of course she did not die, and, thinking back on the tribulations of her own journey, she decided to volunteer for hospital work.
The first place she went to was the Veterans' General Hospital of Taichung, because that is the hospital where her stomach cancer was diagnosed. Tan Chien-sheng, the head of the Department of Oncology at the hospital, posed two puzzlers to her: How would she help those who are facing imminent death? What would she say to young patients who still have hope? Mama Su, unflustered, gave her responses. To the former she would affirm their achievements in life, so that they could leave this world with peace of mind. To the latter she would emphasize how much their families need them, and she would tell them "70% of the difficulty comes from inside your own heads, only 30% is real," with the aim of increasing their will to live. With answers like these, she has smoothly been able to realize her desire to be of service to others.
Because the work of the ACA is mainly focused in the Taipei area, Mama Su has extended herself not only to the Taichung Veterans' Hospital, but also to the Chang Gung hospitals in Keelung and Kaohsiung. She has also established new anti-cancer societies in Taichung and Kaohsiung. The work of these societies is handled completely by cancer patients, to allow those afflicted with cancer to gain the sense of accomplishment and self-affirmation that comes from serving society.
Those in the associations not only make contributions to fellow-sufferers. Their outlook on life can also be very enlightening to healthy people racing around busily every day. Miss Lin's friends all say that she is much nicer since her illness than she was before, and that one always is rewarded by giving her a call, because she can always help them solve their problems by teaching them what is really important in life. "Probably it's because they see someone worse off than themselves," jokes Miss Lin.
Mama Su is an even better example of the way people turn the tables on cancer. You might think her stomach cancer would have struck her as a fateful blow, but she acts in such a way that it seems as if it might have been a blessing. "The bright spot about getting ill is that I have become an example to others. Otherwise I would just muddle through life, and what would make me any different than anyone else?"
Since the future is unknowable, and death will have to be faced in the end, Su Cheng-hsiung simply hopes to avoid pain before going. "Just let us go normally, not in an ugly or degrading way."
Whatever the outcome will be, this group of cancer victims can affirm one thing: They are not alone in their fight against the disease. By coalescing the strength within themselves, in their families, and in other victims, the struggle against cancer need not be quite such an uphill battle.
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In the long days battling cancer, what sufferers need most is the long-term support of their families.
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Only about 5% of victims survive cancer of the pancreas, but Yang Chung-fa is already entering his fifth year beyond his prognosis. He gets up early every day and exercises, and is in far better shape than most people.
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Since being diagnosed with intestinal cancer, Huang Kuan-jen often eats fresh, unpolluted, low-fat foods. He even grows many of his own vegetables.
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Cancer victims take the chance to return "home" (to the association) for seminars. Here they can exchange experiences and information.
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Momma Su works as a volunteer in a hospital, encouraging cancer patients from the perspective of one who has been there.
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Though the bodies of cancer victims are under siege, many acquire a greater depth of understanding of the meaning of life. They have the clear view of one looking far into the distance from a position above the crowd.