Thursday, March 13, 2014

P.S.

I have had several interesting and inspiring conversations as a result of my last post. Some were out of concern for my health. Others were supportive of my message. And others shared their own experiences with the “stages of grief” associated with their journey through hardship.

First, let me assure you that I am healthy. I am six years cancer-free and continue to feel well. My anger just finally caught up with me. I hate that cancer even exists. A longtime friend asked if I hate that I have to live with the fact that my cancer may return. I had not thought of that being part of my anger, but it probably is.
Where there is fear there is also anger. Anger that my husband and I have lost friends and colleagues to cancer. Anger that anyone has to live with the fear that cancer exists; that you may be diagnosed because there is a family history. Anger that once you’ve had a cancer diagnosis you are statistically more likely to have another diagnosis. Fear that the original cancer might come back. And anger that such a thought is even in the back of my mind.
I have written about knowledge and how knowledge can be, and is, powerful. But tied to knowledge is fear and anger. I seek knowledge out of fear and curiosity. Knowledge also feeds fear, and maybe it’s a healthy fear to know the facts of my diagnosis. So, I am going to embrace my anger. I am going to let myself be angry. But I am not going to let anger consume me. I am going to look at my anger and ask, “What can I do?” Well, I can continue to share my knowledge along with the latest news and information. I can work toward finding a cure for all cancer. And I will be there for a friend (or the friend of a friend) in need.
To continue my message of “knowledge is power,” here is a video regarding dense breast tissue and its correlation to breast cancer.
 
 
 
 
Another P.S. – March is colorectal cancer awareness month. If you have a family history or are over the age of 50, get yourself screened.
 
 
 
 
 
If you enjoy my blog and would like to follow me on Facebook, I can be found at The Reluctant Survivor. And on Twitter @relucsurvivor.

3 comments:

  1. Great post. Thanks for following up. Glad you are healthy. Fear is huge these days....their seems to be such an increase in cancer!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Heather - I just watched the video. I'm going for my yearly mammo this Friday - April 25th. I've been told since my first one - years ago - that I have "dense tissue with an area of especially congested ducts just behind my right nipple" but nobody ever said that it might be a problem. I just knew that at every mammo they would do extra pictures of that area "just to check". Now I know better and will be checking on getting more diagnostic procedures. THANK YOU for making me aware that not having anybody in the family that has had breast cancer isn't the only criteria for suseptibility.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good for you, Christa. Ask questions. And keep asking. Leslie will be pleased to know that her video made a difference.

      Delete