I begin with an undeniable; arguably the scariest six letter word in human experience is CANCER, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with it, know someone who has or lost loved ones from that dreaded disease. We’re at a point in our history where the question has shifted from who has cancer to who hasn’t?
Now the truth about cancer is that it won’t give you a call or send you a text message when it’s on the way. Nor will it let you know its type and couldn’t care less about who you are, the stage in your life, the size of your bank account, your current physical condition or what you were doing when it came knocking. It hasn’t the foggiest idea what discrimination is.
But where once the word would strike fear in us, today thanks to early detection and advances in research, much of the potency has been removed from the word and “survivor” is a welcomed add on to the word.
Now let’s learn from a cancer journey through the actual experiences of Tyrone Griffin, a man who has transitioned from running marathons, to confinement for weeks in a hospital with round after round of radiation and chemotherapy, to being blessed today with the designation “cancer survivor.”
When he pulled up a chair across from me, Mr. Griffin reached across the table and clasped my hand as if he was about to ask me to join him in prayer, which I would have obliged. But instead, he placed my hand on top of a head now dotted with patches of black and gray hair, and declared with a cheshire cat-like smile,…“I’m a cancer survivor!”
As background, Griffin, is the president of the Rosenwald Museum in Hiram, Georgia, a member of the Board of Directors with the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce and creator of TheBlackMarket.com website. I should also mention that he’s a physical fitness enthusiast who runs in marathons.
Now to top all that off he was very public in sharing his cancer journey on Facebook, the reason why I reached out to him in the first place. So, talking about uncharted waters, imagine being granted a chance to interview a cancer survivor. But Griffin was gracious enough to provide that opportunity.
So where do I start? What questions should I ask and avoid? Now drawing mental blanks on answers to those questions, let alone managing my own uneasiness, common sense kicked in when I decided to reach out to several folks whose opinions I value for help.
Based on their feedback here’re the questions that framed my conversation with him:
HOW ARE YOU DOING TYRONE? I APOLOGIZE IF THAT’S A QUESTION AND OTHERS MAYBE I SHOULDN’T ASK?
TYRONE: (laugh) No problem. I understand the genuine intent behind the question. But I will say that every case of cancer is different and every person dealing with cancer has different expectations relative to how they wish to be treated, including the questions posed to them. But to answer your questions, I’m truly blessed to be a survivor.
WHAT TYPE OF CANCER WERE YOU DIAGNOSED WITH?
Squamous Carcinoma. Although I can’t say for sure, I learned that had I been vaccinated for HPVP as a child, that may have prevented this diagnosis at this stage of my life. What’s different about this form of cancer is that sometimes it results in problems with one’s metabolism that occur in only 1% of the population. I guess that makes me a one percenter. Call it levity but my doctor told me that if I had to have a form of cancer, this is the one to have compared to the more serious types.
WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO SHARE YOUR STORY
ON FACEBOOK?
I decided to because for the most part my life is an open book. If you share the good, you should share the not good as well, especially if telling your story could impact others in a positive way.
DID YOU EVER ASK, “WHY ME?”
I did but my family answered for me. They told me that I was the only one strong enough to deal with it. I remembered when I was unemployed back in 2010 when I asked myself “why me?” The answer then as it is now is “why not me?’
WHAT’ S YOUR JOURNEY
BEEN LIKE?
Humm, where do I begin. What immediately comes to mind is being in a hospital bed surrounded by specialists in every aspect of cancer followed by 10 rounds of chemo, 35 rounds of radiation and experiencing blood clots and pneumonia. Preceding all that was a heart attack I suffered in 2024 when I lost 40 pounds. I suffered burned out taste buds and lost so much weight that the face recognition on my phone stopped working because it no longer recognized me. But these days my days are fairly normal. I eat pretty much anything I want. Of course, like anyone diagnosed with cancer I had to face my own mortality.
WHAT CAME TO MIND WHEN YOU REFLECTED ON ALL THAT LIFE THREW AT YOU IN LESS
THAN A YEAR?
Actually, I was taken aback somewhat when I reflected on the sequence of my medical challenges. I asked myself if a heart attack prepared me for cancer. Was the good Lord sending me a message? When you’re humbled and confined to a hospital bed for weeks at a time subjected to frequent doctor’s visits, no appetite and inability to get a good night’s sleep you’d be surprised at the thoughts that run through your head including best or worse case scenarios and, of course, thoughts about your own mortality.
YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A TWO-WEEK GAP IN THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN YOU WERE FIRST DIAGNOSED AND YOUR CANCER WAS CONFIRMED. TELL US WHAT THAT PERIOD OF TIME WAITING WAS LIKE.
Truthfully, not knowing the results was one of the most anxious times in my life, one that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. You try to carry on with a normal life but have a cloud of uncertainty hanging over you the entire time.
WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO GET ENGAGED RIGHT AFTER
YOUR DIAGNOSIS?
All I can say is it had to be God talking to me. I proposed at 2 AM two days before I ended up in the hospital. Because she was my fiancé the doctors shared my situation with her. She accepted my proposal and said, “we’ll deal with this together.” And during my journey she’s been by my side every step along the way.
BESIDES YOUR FIANCE’ WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM YOUR
SUPPORT SYSTEM?
At first I did not know how big my tribe was and was humbled by discovering that I had impacted so many people. The city council provided me with a fruit basket, and I received so many calls, cards and messages of support that I lost count of them.
DID YOUR FAITH HELP YOU THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY?
Absolutely. All along I had a good relationship with my creator who I believe brought me back for a reason, among them to provide hope and to give voice to how others are feeling having to deal in life with difficult challenges.
WHAT’S YOUR DEPARTING MESSAGE TO READERS WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN, AND WILL BE TOUCHED BY CANCER?
Accept that life comes at you fast and there will be circumstances in your life that are out of your hands. Don’t take anything for granted and appreciate it while you got it good. Cherish life and know that every day you have is a blessing.
In the end, here’s my key takeaway from what I learned from my time with Tyrone Griffin for that day in the future when – note that I didn’t say “if” – cancer interrupts someone in your life: be present with them, touch them – cancer is not contagious – become a member of their “tribe” and, when asking them questions, focus on their unique experience, coping mechanisms, life changes and, if nothing else, ask “what can I do more of, less of, stop doing altogether or start anew to help you in your journey?”
And while you’re at it, count your blessings!
FYI: Cancer Survivor Network: cancer.org and the 800 number: 1.800.227.2345
Terry Howard is an award-winning writer, a contributing writer with the Chattanooga News Chronicle, The American Diversity Report, The Douglas County Sentinel, Blackmarket.com, recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award, and third place winner of the Georgia Press Award.