The Pain of Cancer Patients
Last year when my Mom lost her life, my whole world changed. The news crushed my heart and sent me into overdrive. It made me feel like I was powerless to her sufferings. Now, she no longer suffered from intense pain because she had passed. It begged the question of keeping one alive while one was weak and in deep agony because of one’s illness vs. having one’s life end in comfort and peace.
An article published in the ARC Journal of Nursing and Healthcare confirms 30 – 70% of cancer patients with metastatic disease and 60-95% of patients in the terminal stage suffer pain. It often comes with emotional distress and sleeplessness. Cancer-related pain may be the cause of many other negative impacts such as dyspnoea, fatigue, anorexia, undesirable circumstances in the patients’ cachexia, changes in taste and alopecia as a function such as the reduced capacity to sleep and concentrate, an increased level of fatigue and anxiety resulting in a decline in quality of life.
Though my Mom had gone to a different world and things are in the past now, I would never forget what she had to go through. I can empathise with cancer patients’ loved ones and themselves. In the future, we may develop more pain-relieving and more effective treatments. We have not won the battles yet when people are still undergoing torments.
I’m fundraising for Cancer Council Victoria to help stop cancer.
According to WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, making up for 10 million deaths in 2020. Tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and air pollution are risk factors for cancer. Early detection, appropriate treatments and care of patients can reduce the cancer burden. My Mother passed away in 2020 due to stage IV lung cancer. It was a dark moment not just for me but also for my family. It was tragic for my Mom when she passed away at an early age. Though she lost her life after nearly five years of battling cancer last November, she is now at peace and no longer suffering.
Cancer is a real threat to our community. However, patients will likely have better outcomes with more treatments and early detection even when cancer is present in our lives. I know that many patients like my Mom will live a longer and happier life if we invest in more advances in cancer research. I can understand how much pain the patients themselves and their loved ones have to go through. I can understand the recurring nightmares that their loved ones have after the cancer patients have passed away. I can understand the financial burdens both on the patients and their families. I can understand the helplessness and hopelessness of their loved ones watching people whom they adore the most slowly and painfully dying. I can understand the tears their loved ones cry every time they see them, wondering when it will be the last time you get to see them again. My thoughts are with them.
This year I want to honor my beloved Mom on my birthday by fundraising. Open your hearts and donate, not necessarily to this particular charity( even though it might be a leading cancer charity in Australia), but to any charity of your choice that you fully trust. Be a volunteer at cancer organisations if you wish to. Take the time to look after cancer patients if you can. Invest time in doing cancer research if your abilities permit. We might just be saving someone’s life, a friend’s life, a child’s life, a wife’s life, a husband’s life, a neighbor’s life, a relative’s life, a customer’s life, a stranger’s life and maybe, your life, or you might be easing the pain during their last days. Our actions may speak louder than our empty words and promises.
My Achievements
Profile picture
Updated story
Page shared
Raised $250
Raised $500
Raised $1000
Self donation
Reached fundraising goal
Increased fundraising goal
Thank you to my Sponsors
$57
Hayden Lai
$40
Christine
❤
$25
Thanh Trieu
$52.20
Lara Nguyen
$25
Sharon
?
$28.19
Ankit Kumar Sharma
Good initiative!
$20.88
Vivian Ly
$26.10
Bing Li
Happy birthday and stay strong Lara. ?
$52.20
Thanh Bui
Hi Laura I’m sorry for your loss. But what your doing is great!
$50
Ho Van
$50
Binh Nguyen
$52.20
Rebecca Bai
Wishing you a very happy birthday and love your heart in doing this xx blessings ~
$25
Mindy Ho
Wishing you happy birthday and that you reach your donation goals xoxo
$41.76
April
Goodluck on reaching your goal!❤️
$20.88
Hang Hoang
$5.22
Anonymous
$26.10
Caitlin Silva
$52.20
Binhjelyn Nguyen Thanh
$50
