Too often, I hear the phrase that someone has "lost their battle" with cancer
This makes me angry - this is not a war with bayonets, bombs and bullets

Cancer does not
shatter hope
corrode faith
destroy peace
suppress memories
silence courage
invade the soul
kill friendships
or conquer the spirit

Cancer does not cripple love

These people precious to me have not "lost"

They have lived, endured, loved, been angry, cried but continued to live, until the very end.

Dr Gretchen Hitchins
December 18, 2017
With thanks and acknowledgement to those who work in palliative care and to others whose writing is similar
First published on the private Facebook group, GPs Down Under Dec 2017