The great "equalizer"
It is now 4 years, 3 months since my initial diagnosis of follicular, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Stage IV.
I have learned much in this time. Arguably, the most important fact that I have learned is that malignant disease is the great "equalizer". No matter what our station in life---monetary assets, education, celebrity---cancer visits all of us.
I can never forget the many sessions in which I received infusions of Rituxan and then CHOP, all preliminary to my Zevalin radioimmunotherapy treatment. During the 4 months of therapy I generally saw the same fellow-patients every week. There were young women in their 30's; there was the man in his bib overalls who told me that he tilled the soil for his livelihood; there was the entrepreneur with adornments of wealth. And, then there were Mort and Louise; Louise, my dear wife, always at my side during the treatments.
Our common plight brought us close together. Remarkably, in such a short time we learned so much about one another.
So interesting, so important to recognize that in the treatment room were were all equal.
Mort