Cancer, My Bff :) !

Copyright © 2020 Dennis G. Whittaker.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Archway Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Project Editor: Donna J. Steen

Production Editor:

Copy editor:

Photographer: Dennis G. Whittaker

Cover Design: Donna J. Steen

Artwork Design: Donna J. Steen

Page Layout: Dennis G. Whittaker

Donna J. Steen

ISBN: 978-1-4808-8561-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-8562-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-8563-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019920095

Archway Publishing rev. date: 01/30/2020

Table of Contents

Introduction, About the Author:

The Pre-Forward, — AKA Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

Forward, On to My Book!

Post-Forward, The Final Chapter (Kinda?) — Why Cancer is My BFF!

Chapter 1, Life Prior to C Day

Chapter 2, Dennis, The Party Animal ?????

Chapter 3, How Did This Happen to Me & Why?

Chapter 4, The Diagnosis Process — You Can’t Trust Every Doctor!

Chapter 5, Time to Start Chemo — Is Tomorrow Good for You?

Chapter 6, Halloween Anyone? Getting Ready for Radiation?

Chapter 7, 35 Daily Zaps — Like Swallowing Boiling Oil

Chapter 8, The Guilt, Anxiety, and Loss of Control

Chapter 9, The Fentanyl Days

Chapter 10, The Recovery

Chapter 11, The Artifacts — AKA The Side Effects

Chapter 12 , Life After Cancer — How Sweet It Is

Chapter 13 , The Other Final Chapter (still kinda — I’m Not Dead Yet!)

Chapter 14 , The Quipet Sampler

Chapter 15 , The After Chapters

Chapter 16, Is This the Over Part?

Introduction

About the Author:

Forever an optimist, Dennis Whittaker has always managed to persevere through all of life’s challenges, surviving everything, including the truths, treatments and recovery from stage 4 cancer.

His mind over matter approach shines through all the ups and downs of this harrowing ordeal with his honest and humorous insights into the realities of this dreaded disease and related artifacts (aka: side effects.)

About the book:

Cancer, my BFF, is a refreshing insight into the realities of surviving and accepting any of the major and debilitating nuisances presented during our lives.

This book explores many of the hidden truths and realities of each stage of the entire process of treatment, recovery of the body, and what may be the toughest part, recovery of the mind, spirit and our little friend Mr. or Mrs. Ego.

The title says it all, as Dennis accepted every reality on his journey with a keen desire to make cancer his truly best friend forever.

Intertwined with Before and After tales, some hand spun Quipets and his personal photographs, the story will provide an honest and humorous look into how to make the best of any of life’s funky turns.

Gotta Breathe! May as well Enjoy it:)!

dgw

The Pre-Forward

AKA Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

Well, like it or not, it is 2017 as we speak. So, what does that mean exactly? Heck if I know.

What I do know is that things aren’t as they used to be. The reference for things one is not allowed to speak on the telly has been replaced with a new list of vulgarities. Ones that are more vulgar are now on the telly on a regular basis. Even our politicians are using the F-Word to agree or, more often, disagree amongst themselves.

This of course, puts somebody like me in a funny spot. It would be much simpler to write my story if I didn’t have a care in the world as to who I might upset or offend. Heck, that may help me sell some books.

On the other hand, this book is intended to be a number of things, but IT IS NOT intended to be insulting, upsetting, infuriating, aggravating, exasperating, shocking, irritating, demeaning or any other feeling that affects one’s blood pressure in a negative way.

On the other, other hand, it is intended to be real, honest, aloof and humorous, and hopefully inspirational in its own way. That is why I have rated it as HH for Honest & Humorous!

Through the advice of a dear friend, I decided that the best way to bridge the gaps as an author in 2017, is to reference these potentially offensive words in the appropriate context, thus ensuring the story’s integrity. However, to avoid over use and potential abuse of these words, they will be shortened to an acronym, which you as the reader can manipulate to your hearts content.

Forward

On to My Book!

Life, as always, is moving along at over 1000 miles an hour. The vicious circle of earn, spend, earn more, spend more continues to spiral out of control, to the point that we work to live instead of the other way around.

I believe this lifestyle to be more common than we care to admit. It is my hope, amongst other things, to provide a new perspective to this cycle of life.

If this sounds familiar to you, then please read on and see why my fight with Stage 4 Squamous Cell Cancer At Base Of TongueQ2 became my best friend.

I know, I know. What can possibly be good about being close to death, tied to a host of medical professionals, IV’s, radical radiation and losing what in my case was the most important part of my brain function, to