A Seagoing Healing After My Fight with Cancer
Suzanne and her husband, Charlie, enjoying Alaska
July 31, 2012
by Suzanne Tucker
What is it about sea air? I’ve always heard that sea air makes you sleepy, makes you hungry and can help restore your health. I found out just what sea air did for appetites, sleep and recuperation when I took my first cruise four years ago.
My husband, Charlie, and I boarded the Alaska-bound Star Princess, exhausted and elated, just three weeks after my last round of chemotherapy for breast cancer. We had been on a year-long crusade of surgery and chemotherapy and by all accounts, I was healthy once more.
From a physical perspective, I was coming off my most challenging year. There were days I was so completely drained by the chemo that I could not make it from my arm chair to my bed without collapsing on the floor for a nap. But it had also been my best year, because as a devout Christian, my cancer journey recharged my life’s conversation with God. I was talking to God, asking what do I do now and thanking Him for each victory over my illness along the way.
As I approached the final treatments, Charlie and I began talking about taking a vacation, something we had rarely done. His military career saw us moving 19 times in 26 years. We already felt like we were traveling most of the time. Then, after the military, we followed a similar pattern with our ministry, teaching and preaching around the world.
The few times we had been near the ocean, it felt restful, so we went with that notion and ended up planning that “once-in-a-lifetime” cruise to Alaska. We traveled from the hot Dallas of August to the breathable air of Seattle, where we boarded Star Princess.
On our first day at sea, when my husband took his third nap of the day and said he felt guilty sleeping so much, I realized that he needed the rest as much as I did.
My husband was exhausted. He is the kind of man who never saw a problem he didn’t want to fix, but the cancer was out of his hands. He cheerfully cared for me despite the burdens, doing his job and mine, never once complaining about how tired or troubled he might have been.
It seems all we did on that cruise was go to our room and sleep so we could build up the strength to lift our forks to our mouths again. Food never tasted so good. During treatment, it had tasted metallic to me but the briny air was bringing my taste buds back to life.
While I was sick, I wondered if the physical endurance I depended on as an on-the-move military wife, mother of two, grandmother of five and traveling minister would ever come back. Energy started to pump its way back into my system during that cruise.
I amazed myself as I was able to walk from the ship to the Skagway train station to take an incredible ride through the mountain pass. While I was too frail to participate, I was an enthusiastic and grateful spectator at the On Deck for the Cure 5K walk, benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the breast-cancer foundation.
We left the cruise, filled with plans, among them turning a cancer blog I had kept into a book, now published and available online—“Journey through the Storm: A Faith Walk through Cancer.” Another decision was to take the same Alaska cruise the following year. A year of clean scans, I boarded stronger and healthier and able to do the breast cancer 5K myself!
Since then, we’ve been on two other cruises, and I am writing another book. I believe God gave me the strength to battle cancer and I thank Him every day for that. I may be missing body parts and I am not as strong as I used to be, but my attitude is great. I don’t waste time anymore. I invest in things that will outlive me like my family and my books.
Charlie and I still travel for our ministry. Now we also take the time to travel for our pleasure, where we indulge in the restorative and healing affects of that fabled sea air.
Suzanne lives in Farmersville, Texas and she’s enjoyed four cruises with Princess.
Oh my God, this is an unbelievable story!
This is a great story, one that I can relate to. I have had a similar experience and having had that feeling of no energy or no desire to do anything, I realized one day that time is short and now my treatments were over I started to exercise, pay attention to my diet and gradually began to get out and be with people. Soon I started feeling alive, now I had grandchildren and so many other things to do while I still could. This lady is right, the chemo and radiation changes you forever and you are not as strong as you once were but I was a survivor and I was alive. I would give anything to go on another cruise and my husband and I will work toward that end to do so. Cruising makes you feel so great, the sea air, sunshine and all the great people one gets to mingle with sure help to restore some sense of normality after what I went through. THe same for my husband who was my caregiver, chief cook and bottle washer. He sure deserves a medal….so maybe we will be able to take that cruise to celebrate life as we know it now. The most grateful thing that I have now is that I am now 7 years cancer free and looking forward to a cruise of a lifetime, to celebrate my survival.
Suzanne, your strength is inspiring. We’re so glad you won your battle with cancer, and that you were able to relax and recuperate onboard!
Mrs. Tucker – I couldn’t believe it when I saw your picture come across my Facebook feed for Princess Cruises. I knew Carrie and Christie from PYOC when we were all stationed at Yokota! Your story is very inspiring and I am so glad to hear you are doing well now. Bless you and your family.
Gina…what a blessing. I sent the information to Carie and Christie. They are both doing well, and live near us with their families. Amazing how God tends to connect and reconnect people!
Amen! I have been in touch with Christie thanks to Facebook
And, if you remember Meredith Smith, we just live about two hours apart and see each other fairly often.
Please give her a hug for me. Her mom and I are good friends… even traveled back to Japan together to speak at a PWOC conference! Glad you got in touch with Christie!
My story isn’t so amazing, but I too have breast cancer and only six more radiation treatments. I was lucky that I didn’t have to do the chemo, only the radiation, and as I understand it, five years of a chem-type drug when radiation is complete. My husband and I are going on an Alaskan cruise tour September 16. This trip was planned becore the cancer was discovered. Traveling is how I like to celebrate my birthday and when it’s the BIG “60″, I wanted something special. As a travel agent, I book a lot of cruises to Alaska, but have never taken one. We are very excited to be going, but dread packing all our winter clothes for the trip when it’s 95 degrees here in Houston! I too will enjoy the naps and the crisp air on the Island Princess, right after our three day land tour in Fairbanks and Denali National Park.
Dear Judy, Walking through the process of cancer treatment is always amazing. You have your own story to share and others probably need to hear it. I am excited that you will celebrate your “60th” going to Alaska. It seems that the American Cancer Society says they are the official sponsors of celebrating birthdays…and I am right there with them. Each birthday is special, and worth celebrating, and I never take them for granted any more. Have a great trip.
Thank you Suzanne–I agree that all birthdays are special….before cancer, and especially after cancer. Today is my last day of radiation, and I can’t wait for it to be over. It’s done a real number on my breast. We are celebrating the end tonight with friends at a restaurant. YEAH! Thank you Suzanne….you are an inspiration.
Suzanne,
Thank you for sharing your story.
Dear Judy,
We appear to be about the same age and have the same story. I was diagnosed this year with breast cancer and recently completed 33 radiation treatments and just began taking medication for a five year period. Think positive. I met so many wonderful people during the journey. For my “60th” next year, my husband and I plan to cruise to St. Petersburg, Russia. Enjoy the Alaskan cruise. It is a wonderful cruise.
Thank you Paula. My heart breaks for you, as it does for me and Suzanne and everyone else. TODAY is my last radiation treatment. Then I start the five year meds. Traveling is what I love to do (which is why I became a travel agent) and I love traveling to spend my birthday, or for anything really!
I wish you the best of luck Paula! I’m sure you will love visiting Russia. I think I will stick with Alaska! LOL.
Look me up at judystravelonline.com
Thanks. Judy L. Paczkowski
Congratulations, Judy on your last radiation treatment. For me, it was a day mixed with highs and lows because of the wonderful support system that I found from the hospital staff and the people going through the same treatments. However, I was very excited that the radiation treatments were completed and could go on to the next stage in my life. I’ll check out your website.
I too have been on the breast cancer journey and just beginning to feel my energy levels coming back although some days still very tired, it was fifteen months ago that I finished my radiotherpy. I did a cruise to Alaska several years ago before I discovered my illness. The most spectacular sight I have ever seen was flying over the icefields in a sea plane, the sight was awsome and will stay with me all my life, so anyone who gets the chance to do it, go for it. Don’t worry about warm clothes too much, we had lovely weather, to swim in the ships pool while the mountains capped with snow and blue sky and sunshine looking down on me was amazing.
Tina, it sounds wonderful, and I can’t wait to see it. We will be visiting in late September, so I may have to worry about warm clothes. Look at the clothes Suzanne had on in her photo. The average high will be 55. I’m wondering what kind of dressy clothes to wear on the ship. I live in hot Houston and don’t have any “warm” dress clothes.
I will pay for you that your cancer stays away and good health.
xoxo Judy
Hi Judy,
Thank you for your reply. Yes Sept may be different we went in July. I love Princess cause they are as dressy as you want to be, there will be two formal nights which is nice to dress up but you dont have to, we mostly take smart casual clothes like smart trousers and different tops or a few dresses with cardies to put on for a walk round deck afer dinner. For day take layers of tops and some jogging bottoms and trainers with a fleece. They will sell tops on the boat if you find you have not taken the right thing.
Dear Judy,
I cruised on the Coral Princess in July last year. 7 days after my return I had a regular mammogram and found I had breast cancer. Fortunately it was stage 2 with clear margins so I ws able to éscape’ with just radiotheraphy but yes, it did á number’on my breast and I was very tired at the end … how wonderful it would have been to do the cruise afterwards, well done. Re evening clothes for the cruise you will not need warm clothes for evening … the ships are at a beautiful temperature for elegant dresses or glittering tops with pants.
I too just finished radiation for breast cancer on August 16th. I look at “life” differently now. My husband and I enjoyed this cruise a couple years ago. The scenery is spectacular, the ship is beautiful and the food devine! We went during the same time of year and enjoyed brilliant weather – in fact you will be leaving on my birthday.
Enjoy and God bless!
Well done,, one step at a time is all it takes and in your case, faith in your Lord as he will be ahead of you plant that step
Rob
That is a wonderful story.Relaxing on a cruise can be a great help with the healing of the elements, Glad that you are better now,God Bless always.
Some days the stories I read on Princess inspire me. Wish you all the best.
I too recovered from a bad accident on several Princess cruises. I had broken ribs and a compression fracture after having my car totaled by a pick up truck. The side air bag saved my life but broke my ribs. On the 15 day Hawaii cruise, I was able to rest and eat reclining on the lounges by the pool. I had massages in the spa. I had a heating pad in my room and a lumbar pillow that I carried to the dining room. It was a wonderful way to recuperate.
My husband and I just came home from a two week Alaska cruise. There cannot be words for the experience we shared together, so I will just call them golden memories.If anyone would enjoy photo’s of Alaska at it’s best please enjoy my husbands inletguy.com We will treasure these memories forever. I believe my husband captured photo’s better than any National Geographic photographer or as great. We were told by our guide tour that rain had been on there menu forever and we perhaps had the best weather ever.
I had good friends in Farmersville! Gene and Catherine Harris. She had a hair salon there. Your story was so inspirational! Thank you! I am from Arlington, TX. But we have lived all over the U S since marriage. We are in Ft. Wayne, IN now.
I will look them up. Thanks for sharing!
A wonderful story of strength and courage. I am sure it will inspire and help others. Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful story of healing and strength…You are truly a great inspiration to all of us,
My husband and I took a cruise to Alaska about 3years ago, we had a great time. Two weeks before that I received a diagnosis that I had endometrial cancer……but toldthat it was slow growing. I did enjoy and put my faith in God,,,That December, I had a histerectomy and all the biopsies were negative, I am healthy and well, and we look forward to cruising again,
What a wonderful storey , glad you are doing well god bless you and your husband, keep well.
Thank you for your witness and ministry. How awesome you were able to enjoy the beauty of the White Pass and His creation in Alaska. Prayers that God will continue to bless you and your husband abundantly. There isn’t a better time to reflect on our blessing and spend time in prayer than on a cruise.
Thanks for sharing your story.God is Good.I have just gone through an experience of lots of tests for suspected cancer but thanks to the prayers of many and our Great God I have the allclear and am looking forward to our next cruise shortly
Wow, what a blessing it is to have all this encouragement. I know that hearing other peoples’ stories touches my life, so it is humbling to think that mine encourages others. Thank you to each of you who took the time to write!
How wonderful for you, and I am glad that God blessed you with your cancer clearing up. I have always dreamed of going on a cruise, hopefully one day I will get that chance!
I love smelling the sea air and agree it helps restore the body’s health. Thanks for this wonderful story. I am going on a cruise in March out of Galveston, TX and I can’t wait.
Your story really resonated for me. My husband and I are avid cruisers and did our first princess cruise on our honeymoon in 2008. A few months ago I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer and I’m now going through chemo for 15 months as well as radiation and surgery next year. I have a long, long road ahead and if I come through it we hope to do another cruise together. Maybe for my 50th birthday in 3 years. Your story has planted the seed more firmly and given me inspiration to continue this horrible battle and make it through to the otherside. I have lots more life to live.
Thank you
Michelle
Michelle, Thank you for sharing. I will pray for you for healing. And yes, I love the word
“through.” There were times when I wanted to give up, but the process built endurance in me. I came out stronger in many ways. You might consider checking into CaringBridge.org web site. It is a non-profit web site, provided without cost, for those who are going through health crises. My book was my journaling on the website…
written in real time, as I was going through each step of the process. I shared openly my challenges and battles, and ended up publishing it because so many people asked for a copy. The website allows you to write and communicate when you have the energy, and then gives a place where others can send comments. I looked forward daily to reading the encouraging things friends would write. Their comments and written prayers helped strengthen me…as I realized I was not alone. Again, thank you for sharing.
Hi Suzanne, thank you for your reply back. I feel honoured. I have heard of CaringBridge.org, however it was after I started my own blog page. I too use it as a way of helping me heal and sharing my story. If you would like to see it, you can go to pammenteryoung.com (put a www before that), I have documented both the good and bad days – as you know the bad days can be pretty bad. Just two days ago I found out that my mother has stage IV metastasized cancer that is now in her brain, it has been a devastating few days however I have been shown a way to work through it. Just today I decided I will write my mothers story. She has had an interesting and at times hard life, living in three countries, growing up in the war in Europe etc, she is such a sweet, kind person who has always loved so completely and I feel her story needs to be told. It will serve as her legacy and will also help me heal and allow me to spend a lot of time with her during these, her last few months. I will publish the book, even if only my family purchase it. This way my children (her only two grandchildren) will have something with which to remember Granny by.
Sorry….I am rambling on, I just wanted to share.
Thanks again Suzanne.
Michelle
Very inspiring and innovative!!! i got so motivated just reading this story. God bless you for sharing it,and God bless and prosper you guys Ministry!!! Again thanks for sharing!
I am so delighted that you took this cruise and that it was a blessed time for you. You and Charles are always thinking of, loving, giving to others with all your time..truly giving and serving. When you were challenged to overcome cancer, you allowed others to go through the journey with you and learn from your relationship with God and continue to share with your book, “Journey through the Storm” which is an inspiration to all …….but with this cruise, it was something for you, and for Charles…..go glad you did it…….and even in doing something for yourselves, others are inspired (a lesson to all)…thank you for telling us and others about it….thank you, sis!!!
I HOPE MY PICTURES OF MY CRUISE ON ISLAND PRINCESS TO ALASKA ON 9/19 TURN OUT (HOPEFULLY) AS GOOD AS YOURS!!!!! THANKS FOR THE INFO!!!
Obviously there is a tremendous need to share going on here. I believe that we see life a different way when the controls we normally exercise are lost to us. We find our way of coping and having a strong belief system helps. To all the strong people out there who have taken this journey, Bless you all!
I loved these stories. Suzanne, you have a new little ministry right here. Our faith may be small and often even weak, but God is very powerful and He does not change or get tired so we can depend on Jesus in life and in death, in every day which is given to us!.
How inspiring!! and on a Princess site no less.We are fortunate to be Princess travelers too and @ present dealing with a close friend who is having chemo for lung cancer.
Her faith is keeping her and the family intact- I will look for your book and perhaps plan a trip with them when this is over!!! God Bless and keep you in His hands.
Hi I am still getting over cancer of the Colon and have had 2 operations. I am still recovering after 3 years and it has been a long fighting time.
Hi Suzanne and Charlie,
Tks for the blog and wonderful to rehearse God’s goodness to you both.
Could it be that you attended Primary School in Townsville Charlie?
If so, maybe we were in the same class as I recall, and we could possibly catch up.
Dear Ivor, No, Charlie didn’t attend that school. He attended in Dallas. Thank you for the encouragement.
Rosalind Grimwood Seaford South Australia
After reading your comments about Surviving Cancer I would like to share my story so far with fellow ” Princess Seafarers”
Sadly after only 7 months from Diagnosis of b-cell non Hodgkins Lymphoma we lost our beautiful 4 year old grandson Rodney in Jan’12.
We went with friends on the Sea Princess to New Zealand in February ’12 and on our return I celebrated my big 70th Birthday,
As I hadn’t felt my normal bright self since January I went to see my GP in March and after investigation was diagnosed with non-curable Metastatic grade 4 Cancer[ maybe 1-5 years life expectency] which is in my Bowel,Liver and Lung,which was a big shock as I have never smoked or drank and always ate healthy.
I am undergoing Chemo treatment and have had a bowel operation and 4 out of 12 chemo sessions so far. I try to keep a good spirit up and even when I am at my low times find that a phone call from friends helps me to keep going and realize what true friends are in these circumstances.
I don’t think some people realize what a strain it puts on a marriage as your husband feels so useless and can only try to help you through such a trauma
I am determined to beat this dreadful disease that takes so many loved ones from us.
Maybe after my treatment we may be able to go on another Princess Cruise to relax and re-cuperate. My thoughts go out to everyone who is undergoing treatment and can only say “Keep your chin up !!!”
Suzanne your comments uplift me tremendously.
I, too, have felt the ravages of illness and have come a l-o-n-g journey. I hope to take my family as time well-spent togther before death or other events may interrupt. Getting away is not only medicinal but NECESSARY! I’ll pray for your ministry and numerous years to further enjoy God’s unlimited healing and love.
Dr. Don Contreras
Thank you so much for your prayers. I do want each day to count. The whole issue of time has become very relevant…and yes, spending that time with family, and investing in my inheritance. My desire is to do things that will out-live me. And praying for my children and grandchildren are at the top of my list. I, too, pray for you and for God’s healing power to flow through your life.
Dear sister in Christ- you are a remarkable witness- and God has spared you to do this.
I am so happy you are enjoying life to the fullest with your husband.-And the memories of all this -no-one can take away from you -
I had my first cruise end of April this year – absolutely loved it, although I was travelling alone – (my husband passed away 5 years ago)- i met so many lovely people on board the Sun-Princess- my daughters organized it for me in honour of my 80 th birthday-love….and may God bless you both
My first trip was right after a diagnosis of breast cancer including a year of surgery/chemo and radiation. I had never traveled before but I felt it was something that I should do to embrace life. I traveled to 6 countries in Europe with my teenage daughter. 16 years later, days before a trip I had planned for a year, I was again diagnosed with breast cancer. My daughter, son and I were due this time to leave for a 7 country cruise. I did go as the knew the bad stuff could just wait. It was a wonderful powerful trip. The sea air and the beautiful countries and the feeling of being together with humanity was more healing than standard treatment. When I returned home, I faced it all. No regrets about waiting. It is 3 years later now and I am doing well and thinking about another cruise!! Blessings to all of you who have shared in they type of journey!
Today was my first radiation treatment, and there will be 28 more until radiation is completed on October 5th. Had surgery (right breast mastectomy) in late March, and have just completed what I call the ‘triple blast’ of chemo (6 of these). Besides radiation, I will continue on chemo infusions every 3 weeks of Herception until April 2013.
Before my official diagnosis, I went on a cruise with friends to the Carribean. The biopsy was delayed until I returned from this cruise. I had such a wonderful time on the Emerald Princess. I enjoyed all aspects of shipboard life and activities: the crews’ singing, dancing, comedic skits, the juggling; I took part in the day excursions; ate my way through so many fantastic meals – I never missed a ‘cold sou” and desserts – oh, the pounds I put on!; I eagerly took part in the On Deck For A Cure 5K Walk (I think some part of me already suspected the biopsy results). My friends and I took countless pictures and I kept a daily journal (a frequent and favorite ‘hobby’ of mine).
Over the next few months, I read and reread this journal. It has helped sustain me through some difficult days, just as my faith in God’s love for me and the calls, cards and e-mails from family and friends have kept my fighting spirit strong. I have felt a wondrous kinship to women I never met, and I know I am not alone on this journey.
I have been out of town and thus have not looked at this site for several weeks. I am in tears. Rosalind, I especially hurt with you for your grandchild. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be.
It was not until I was diagnosed with cancer that I began to find out how many, many people go through this. And when I consider each of those people touch the lives of hundreds of others, think of the extent of lives that are impacted and changed. As I read through this Princess blog site, I pray for each one of you.
Thank you for taking time and being willing to share your stories. I hear the compassion and understanding in so many comments. I appreciate that you share the hard times and the tears, as well as the victories, hopes and plans for the future. Until that year, I did not realize the power of encouragement in each person’s testimony.
Dear Kathe,
You are on my heart today. Thank you for sharing and being such an encourager. I pray that your faith will grow through this challenging time. Even after 4 years, I can still feel what it was like during those months of treatment. With the gift of “hind sight,” I realize that I was healed in more ways than just physically. Yes, keep fighting. I wanted to give up part of the way through, but inside I kept hearing that I was to “finish strong.” That motivation helped me continue to walk, one day at a time. It seemed to me like things should get easier toward the end, but for some reason it was not easier for me. May you persevere. You are in my prayers.
In February 2008 both my husband and I were diagnosed with cancer. My breast cancer was caught very early, and I only needed a lumpectomy and radiation. However, my husband’s colon cancer called for a resection and chemo. We both experienced some complications in our treatments, also. We have no family near us and we were both working full-time. Between us there was always another check-up or appointment, with concerned friends and co-workers saying, “how are you?”, and for 8 months straight I didn’t work a “normal” week. We could not for a moment forget the trials of the year; it was a very stressful and draining 8 months, both physically and mentally.
Then friends called and said they wanted to take a first-time cruise for their 40th anniversary, and since we had taken 6 cruises already, would we go with them? We said yes, and together we chose the 7-day Princess Mexican Riviera cruise in Nov. 2008. They became hooked on cruising, and we were able, in the anonymity of all the passengers and crew, to begin to be just two more people enjoying a holiday. The cruise began our mental healing, which I had doubted would ever come. We have cruised since then, but this cruise will be treasured in my heart forever.