The idea that anybody was forced, or pressured, or encouraged, is not true.

If children have the ability to ignore all odds and percentages, then maybe we can all learn from them. When you think about it, what other choice is there but to hope? We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up, or fight like hell.

For most of my life I had operated under a simple schematic of winning and losing, but cancer was teaching me a tolerance for ambiguities.

My actions and reactions, and the way I treated certain scenarios, were way out of line, so I deserved some punishment.

If I can't face my accusers, that's a joke. We did that in medieval times.

Make an obstacle an opportunity, make a negative a positive.

So if there is a purpose to the suffering that is cancer, I think it must be this: it's meant to improve us.