Song & Dance of a 3-Time Cancer Survivor
Act 8
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
The Heroine’s experiences so far have left her with less than full confidence in the medical team. She decides to read up on cancer to help her make informed choices. In some photographs and diagrams, the malignant cells (e.g., cancer protein) are strangely beautiful. But how closely does one dare to know this new enemy?
Heroine’s opening speech:
Knowing I cannot leave everything to the hospital and medical team, I decide to read up on cancer so as to be able to make informed choices. I find many cancer cells visually beautiful.
Chorus:
Cancer cells, beautiful!? She must really be an artist!
Male lead:
Thus aesthetics triumph over grim medical reality!
Chorus:
Biopsy - - - Pathology - - - Malignancy - - - O ––– Sympathy;
Oncology - - - Radiotherapy - - - Chemotherapy - - - O ––– Fragility;
Tenacity - - - Bravery - - - Recovery - - - O ––– Normality!
Heroine:
Lumps and bumps,
Down in the dumps,
What’s wrong — with me?
How long — do I have?
How strong — must I be?
What song — will help me through?
(with determination) Better the devil you know…
Chorus:
True.
And anyway you have
God The Surgeon on your side,
with all his attendant Nursing Angels.
Heroine:
Knowledge is power,
one hopes!
It’s only natural to seek information and understanding.
Male lead:
Do you dare?
Do you really dare?
Dare to stare
into the face of the enemy?
Chorus:
Dare to look into,
look into…
massive magnification of your enemy?
Heroine:
I find them strangely beautiful.
Strangely, strangely…
Beautiful!
(I intend to have Act 8 performed as a dance, with dancers dressed up as colourful cancer cells, with related projection/animation... see ideas/illustrations in my PhD thesis.)
_ _ _
Not content with its own awesome powers
the enemy now seems to be in league with NHS bureaucracy.
Can any mortal withstand the onslaught of such a pincer movement?
See next, Act 9:
NHS? Private?
What best treatment?!
Uncertainties… of the disease!