I had always taken my health for granted – getting regular check-ups, eating healthy, and exercising. But when I started feeling a continuous pain in my lower abdomen, I knew something was wrong. After a few tests, the doctor confirmed that I had bladder cancer.
Suddenly, my world turned upside down. I had to go through chemo and radiation and take medication that made me sick and lethargic. I lost my energy and drive to do anything. I could barely make it through a day at work let alone keep up with my hobbies and going out with friends. My social life suffered and I was too embarrassed to even open up about what I was going through.
I tried to stay hopeful and focus on beating cancer, but the odds were not in my favor. The treatments were taking a toll on my body, and the cancer kept spreading throughout my bladder. I was in and out of the emergency room, spending more and more time in the hospital and fighting the cancer with all I had.
Eventually, I had to accept that I was losing the fight. I had to make my peace with what was happening and learn to make the most of the time I had left. I spent my time with my family, laughing, talking, and simply being together.
In the end, the cancer had won. I had run out of treatment options, and the cancer had spread throughout my body. With my last strength, I held my family close and said my goodbyes.
My battle with bladder cancer had ended in loss, but it had also shown me what mattered most in life: spending time with the people I loved.