Cancer does not define me

Please share your affirmations or who you are.

You can also share who you are today vs the person you were before cancer.

Bravo

Cancer is something I live with, not something I suffer from.

It's not always easy, but what relationship ever is? After more than 4 years, we've made peace with each-other and learned to co-exist.

I'm 2 years cancer free now. But during my Cancers (yes, I had it twice) I kept a similar focus as you. I would add "I am not afraid".

Prior to cancer I was diagnosed with MS 27 years ago. My my neurologist told me at that time " Don't be afraid. Don't live your life in fear of MS. Don't give that to the disease. " So from that day on whatever MS took from me it took by force and I was not fearful or left waiting for the bad to come my way. I applied that to Cancer. I am not afraid. I won't live in fear.

This is terrific--an inspiring approach. I don't feel like a very different person than I was 3 1/2 years when I was diagnosed with a rare aggressive breast cancer. I've had a fair amount of experience with death in my 71 years and I certainly feel old, but in a positive way. Being a grandma and being accepted as ancient but loved in any case is a great way to go. I'd say the only thing that has changed/improved is my relationship with my husband. It's always been close, caring, supportive and fun--and the diagnosis shook the relationship with the specter of loss. We got some advice to be more "aspirational" which seemed impossible, as we were hanging on in the midst of oncology. However, we were able to take that to heart. We've been emphasizing our shared love of travel, and giving less weight to those little things that can cause judgement. So this was an unimagined positive change. Otherwise, a bit embarrassingly, I think I'm still the person I was at 16--care about the same things, similar emotions. I think your questions in and of themselves are helpful. It helps to take a fresh view and see that we do have agency. Thanks!

@azsunshine7
Raise A Glass
Propose A Toast
We Are Beautiful Just The Way We Are

Thank you, azsunshine--you are offering us ways to stay on top of our diagnoses and continue positive lives.
I meditate for a spirit of calm, for a sense of well being for myself and for others. (I've been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer for over 3 years and my husband has dementia; it's a challenge.)
"Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well with my soul."

Courage, Carrie (just about 86 years old)

This so resonates with me. I had similar thoughts. During radiation treatment, I noticed my name followed by "palliative care." At the time, I felt profiled, demeaned.
Eventually, I realized I am not defined as "that cancer patient- palliative care." I am who I always have been: strong, independent, resilient, a fighter. As chemo and radiation treatment shrunk my cancer, I live life to the fullest and am ever so grateful.

@mamqtz Yes, when I got home from the hospital and I heard the word "palliative" from home care (who had just come by for a quick evaluation), I was shocked.

I knew my oligometastatic prostate cancer couldn't be cured, but I understood that the treatment I was getting could keep it in remission for at least a while, if not a good number of years, so why were they calling me "palliative"?

I called the hospital, and they were very apologetic. I had left quickly without a lot of preparation because a new COVID outbreak was starting (this was January 2022), or else they would have explained to me that "palliative" doesn't mean end-of-life care; it just means that the treatment I'm getting isn't expected to cure the cancer. In effect, anyone who has a chronic disease, even one that could last until old age, is getting palliative care.

In the event, I'm into my 5th year on so-called "palliative" care now, living a great life with no evidence of disease, and they now tell me I just might live to see old age after all (I was only 56 when I was diagnosed).

Don't let that "palliative" define you, either.

Thanks for sharing. That's wonderful to hear.