Cancer...a BAD word

What is it about the word cancer that can immediately strike a blow to your heart? I heard that word today about two different family members. My favorite aunt is battling cancer right now. She's bald, having lost her hair after her first chemo treatment weeks ago. This is the aunt who is everyone's favorite...the fun aunt...the one who we all want to sit next to at family gatherings...the one who took me in when I was an unmanageable teenager and ended up saving my life. I rail against the unseen cancer that is ravaging her body, against the unfairness of it all. The other family member is a favorite sister-in-law, fresh from her diagnosis of melanoma, which hopefully has been caught early enough to be cut from her body and leave no traces behind. We've had too many affected by cancer in our family! A mom, a mom-in-law and an aunt lost their battles against this horrible thing that is cancer. A sister, 4 aunts and a sister-in-law all fighting now or having fought their own battles in the past. Is it any wonder that the idea floats around in my mind not "if" but perhaps "when"? When will it be my turn to hear that hateful word? You hear some use that cliche "forewarned is forearmed" but how do you arm yourself against cancer? Who knows what decisions in your childhood or youth have triggered something that is even now gaining strength inside your body? I think we have to just embrace each day as it comes, treasure each moment as a gift, cherish those we love. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff!