Me, Marsha Marie

  I Hate Cancer  by Marsha Marie  If ever there were a topic that was easy to write about, it would be how much I hate having cancer. Diagnosed in November of 2023, my life took a drastic change in direction. "Leukemia," they told me. "You will die if you do not start treatment immediately; two months tops."  I felt like my world had ended. The next few months were a long blur of tears, fear and vomiting.  Yes, my hair fell out. I felt like everyday could possibly be my last.  Then an option was given to me. I could get a stem-cell transplant and get an 80% survival rate. So my two choices were try to survive or die. I chose to try.  So, in March of 2024, I watched donated tiny stem-cell particles stream down a tube and into my arm. (You could actually see them when you put a light on it. Quite cool when you think about it.)  Since the diagnosis, I have lost about 70 pounds, and have taken what feels like thousands of pills. Mood swings are up and down with the bree