Practical Spirituality--Surviving Prostrate
Cancer
By
John Gilmore
There’s nothing like discovering that you have
cancer, especially if no one in your family ever
had it. Cancer is a very dangerous disease, as
anyone knows. It is only dangerous on the physical
lever, but probably even more devastating on the
emotional and mental level. Especially the forms
of cancer that seem not to be taken seriously by
those who don’t have it. This is especially true
of prostate cancer.
As soon as anyone discovers that you have
prostrate cancer the first thing they tell you is
how common it is, and then they move onto the
success rate of its treatment. This is a bit
comforting, but when you begin to hear about the
procedures involved, that comfort flies out the
window. Cutting out parts of your body, eradiating
your body to shrivel your prostate, planting
hundreds of radioactive seeds in the prostate, or
freezing the prostate until it dies, and the left
over affects of decreased potency and the need to
use stimulates for intercourse, if that is even
possible, are devastating.
These are not good things. They are all loses that
must be grieved. Even if you don´t want to, any of
these treatments mean that you will never be able
to father another child. You will always know that
a part of you is missing; the part that created
the seeds that bring forth life. If you are a
survivor of prostate cancer, or you have just been
diagnosed, and all of the speeches about the
success rate don’t quite comfort you on all
levels, you may be dealing with the last issue of
which I spoke. Procreation is more than a physical
act. It is an issue that is somewhat primordial
and spiritual. It is at the root of what it means
to be alive for just about every species on Earth.
Most people do not really think about it like
that.
People around you hear cancer and panic, thinking
that you should do anything to keep it from
spreading. The cancer patient, some of them
anyway, however, often looks deeper, looking for
the meaning behind the fact that parts of one’s
own body has declared war on you, and thinking of
the most beneficial ways of dealing with it.
If you are diagnosed with prostrate cancer, or any
other type, and are thinking of getting treatment,
or if you are having treatment, or have completed
treatment, it is important for you to look for a
deeper meaning. It is important for you to begin
to explore your life deeply and to find a
meaningful way to participate in life that is
satisfying and enjoyable. Many say that modern
civilization is a toxic, cancerous environment in
itself. Is it any wonder that our bodies should
become like the toxic environment in which we
live? Find ways to be healthy. Create sacred
spaces where you can step outside of the toxic
environment to strengthen yourself. You will then
give birth to new things on a different level—a
spiritual level.
If you can find a group where you can talk about
what has happened, the shock that has happened to
your mind, body, and spirit, find one. Several
hospitals have prostate cancer survivor support
groups. Many other people will not know what you
are talking about and what you are going though on
the inside. Don’t try to force yourself to get
over it and to go ahead with life. You will do
this, and life will go on. The truth is, however,
that you have been injured, even if it doesn’t
show on the outside, and you can never get back
what you have lost. You have to heal from the
injury on all levels. This is something that we
must learn to live with. A greater understanding
of who you are and why things like this happen are
the only help. It is also important to work to
gain some insight, or lifestyle that is worth all
of the fear and suffering. When you have done this
you will be able to move on without pushing. It
will be natural and you will be a greater person.
Don´t ignore practical spirituality and healing
methods like meditation, Tai Chi, Yoga or Chi
Kung. They can be very good for dealing with the
mental, physical and spiritual aspects of the
injury if you go very deep in their application.
Dr. John W. Gilmore is a writer, spiritual director, and certified healer in
many alternative health traditions. For more information on how to apply
practical spirituality to your life visit our free Practical Spirituality
Journal at
http://www.dswellness.com Explore our website for more information geared to
the healing of the greater community. Also visit our school at
http://dswellness.htap.net
Reunion of Souls, Dr. John W.Gilmore. A book of deep spirituality in Sci-fi
form.
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