Cancer does not define me

Posted by azsunshine7 @azsunshine7, Jan 20 1:29am

Cancer can be a challenging journey, profoundly impacting our lives in various aspects. It can affect our physical wellbeing, emotional state, relationships, and financial stability. Cancer can invoke fear, depression, isolation or frustration. It also affects our uncertainty surrounding our future and adds to the emotional turmoil we can experience. The emotional rollercoaster can be both overwhelming and exhausting, with all the negative effects accumulating simultaneously.

That being said, cancer does not define who we are!

We have the opportunity to connect with ourselves and rewrite our narrative.

I am…..!

I am strong.
I will commit to change.
I am a mother.

Every day is an opportunity to create meaning and joy, whether I have three months or three decades ahead of me.

I am a courageous but humble person.
I can reclaim my free will
I am aware of my actions, feelings and thoughts and know they influence my reality.

I will reconnect with every beautiful thing life has to offer and be the best version of myself. My strength lies in my determination and perseverence.
I have the strength to bounce back and be even better.

Cancer does not define me.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer Support Group.

stage4lovolmetpc | @stage4lovolmetpc | Mar 26 10:59am

I like to think my PCa has made me a better person. When I heard the words "you have aggressive and advanced prostate cancer" everything changed. There I was, at 72, complacently going about my comfortable retired life while this black spider was spinning its web inside my body. I had not a clue. My outcome remains to be seen, so many permutations regarding treatments, outcomes, side effects. But wait.... I am enjoying every day, talking to and walking my big beautiful dogs in the woods, saying hello to people in the store. Being kind to family. Taking care of my business so as to make things easier for them when my time does come. In a strange way I was glad, even elated, to learn I have this serious illness; it gave me purpose, a reason to live the rest of my time with a sense of urgency, the clock is ticking, do not waste a moment I tell myself.
To borrow a phrase from a book I am reading: I want to be alive when I die.
Ill be outside in my canoe today, for the first time this year. Im looking forward to dipping my paddle in that cold dark water, listening to the blackbirds as I push off from shore.
Thank you Mom and Dad, for giving me this lovely moment.....Ill be sure to think of you today, on the river.

sistermarcy | @sistermarcy | Mar 27 8:55am

Beautiful reflections on each unique cancer journey. I too believe that cancer doesn’t define me but it does challenge me daily to see the world and my life in new ways. I pray that I can meet each new challenge with wisdom and grace. I am grateful to all of you who travel this unsolicited path with me… Thank you.

jmhwmt51 | @jmhwmt51 | Mar 27 11:50am

I couldn't agree more!! This is what I want my legacy to be. Cancer does not define me. It is something I treated and have beaten. And I will continue to beat it, if it is stupid enough to show its face to me again. I may be dealing with some side effects from the drugs needed to get rid of said cancer, but I am still around to deal with those and cancer is not. I pray every day that those treating this horrible disease find the strength and support they need to get through it. Keep telling yourselves, all of you, that you are strong, brave, courageous, and fighters.
God bless all of you.