LIVESTRONG BLOG

For me Cancer opened up my eyes and made me realize how beautiful and horrible things are all around me.

Since then I have made the time to volunteer for worthy causes and to help others. My personal favorite cause is Rescuing Labrador Retrievers with Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue. Helping those who cannot speak for themselves is a passion of mine now.

Thanks Cancer
P.S. you still suck but you opened my eyes

Diagnosis was my 50th birthday present. Opened my eyes to the many different causes–mine was the result of a virus. Reinforced my belief in the power of positive thinking as a critical element in remaining healthy and accomplishing things. Showed me the true value of our Canadian medical system — and also gave me a strong insight into the ongoing research and the incredible work done at Princess Margaret Hospital. The love and support from my partner strengthened our relationship. Reminded me that time isn’t infinite and inspired me to want to finish my PhD among other things. I think I also find more value in every part of life from quiet moments of reflection to the joy of gardening to the delight of cooking–and I think I seize information/knowledge more than ever. So yes, I think positives can come out of a cancer diagnosis.

I am a survivor 3 months from breast cancer. It was an amazig experience very hard to go through BUT I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I have trust and faith in Jesus more now than ever. I have more compassion for people and my three young girls an husband do too. We are all given trials to go through at one time or another in our live and attitude is everything in going through something like that. I am honored that I was chosen to go through this and feel I have come out ahead in the end

Cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me. It has given me a perspective on life and living that most people long for their entire lives. As someone else posted, I live in the present, I really that every day here is truly a gift and I want to make the most out of it. Sounds like a bunch of cliche’s but for me it is a way of life.

Cancer was my ‘life-saver’ -
The opportunity to ‘smell the roses’ was always there but I rarely did – I just rode on by! The happiness in the lives of my family, friends and cancer survivors are now more important than ever. The birth and baptism of my grandson (Ryan), the planting of a Texas Red Bud tree, the beauty of the indian paintbrush, mustard or bluebonnet -chasing daylight on the golf course – now that is the beauty of Life that Cancer has returned to me.

Don’t get me wrong, ‘cancer sucks’ but it does not have to be a ‘life sucker.’

~* oh yes~ First I found out that I was smarter than most doctors!
( kidding, not really). No one knows your body like you.
Don’t give up on yourself. And don’t do in your heart what you feel isn’t right.
I found my voice, not the first time I had cancer, a little more the second time and now I am a voice they will hear and listen too.
It’s a shame the silent person gets pushed around but it’s true many times. Please love yourself enough not to just say okay. Okay can kill you! Mentally as well as physically.

I never loved myself ~ never. I do now. I am force, compassionate, honest, strong, beautiful, smart and I will be heard! It’s kind of awesome for a shy girl.

my first born was diagnosed with neuroblastoma after his first birthday. you never ever think cancer can happen to you or anyone close to you, let alone a young child. even though there is no cure for cancer, i’ve learned to let go and let life take its course. it’s a difficult thing to do, but when you watch your child take the brutal effects of treatment and then get back up to laugh, play and jump like kids are supposed to do, the past doesn’t matter anymore and the present is what we all should really be living for. no one knows what the future holds, but we do know that what we have is today so we should embrace it. it’s what my son, now 3 years old, taught me.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ariesbook

I believe that cancer has caused me to realize about the mortality of an individual. As someone who is barely in college, looking at relatives with the disease and seeing how once they were so vital, and something as small as a tumor can cause them to decline, I realized that I needed to take care of myself. I also learned to love. Who knows if tomorrow I’m going to wake up. No one knows for sure that they will live in the next moment, so I learned to forgive, to continue on and figured out the people I wanted in my life. Though losing some people can be thought of as a negative experience, I also grew as an individual through these losses, which I believe is much more positive than negative.

Health and disease are in perfect balance, sometimes the balance is lost, as a doctor I’ve worked with people who have cancer, not by attacking disease but to the mind.
” the mind ” is what motivates or depress us, and the only one thet gives us the option of winning or losing the battle against cancer

I recommend not looking at the disease but the patient, be aware of their psychological and emotional needs. Science has progressed to a point and sometimes sometimes it seems that nothing else could be done, therefore the “key” is just working with the “person” who carries the disease and not simply fighting against the disease.”

I am not a cancer survivor. My younger brothers childhood friend died of cancer just a couple of months ago after being in remission from Melanoma cancer for a handful of years. He faced cancer head on with incredible courage and dignity. You could not feel sorry for him after reading his weekly posts on caringbridge. If I could have an ounce of his courage. He single handly changed the lives of many people who had never even met him.

Honestly, I would have been just fine never having gone through it. It does change your outlook and perspective but I wouldn’t mind not having had to deal with it. I enjoyed life plenty before it and still do. For me it was just something to work through and move on.

I think it can. Cancer makes your live harder, but when you survived I think it makes you stronger. I don’t want to have it once but you’ll have to fight through. I think Lance is the perfect example of fighting and when he was healthy again he was stronger then ever.

Where do I start? An appreciation for sleeping in my own bed at night, loving mundane tasks like folding laundry, everyday activities such as eating and combing my hair, deeper things like knowing who loves you, knowing how strong you are, knowing that dying maybe isn’t even the scariest thing that can happen to someone, understanding what love means, looking back and knowing that you lived, that you didn’t miss one second, being proud of being a warrior, knowing who you love and why, learning to love yourself, feeling real joy in the silliest of things, laughing from the bottom of your belly, and crying meaningful tears, knowing what hard work means, understanding the miracle of life and that wonder that anything exists at all, seeing beauty, stopping time, making peace, meeting extraoridnary people. And I have only just begun.

I think it can but I am not talking from experience but this guy does, check out his video:

http://vimeo.com/9796056

No regrets – while an awful experience to go thru 2x, it has made me the person I am today – stronger, more thankful for my blessings, and more passionate than ever to find a cure in my lifetime. I want to help others in their fight – and try to show them that a cancer diagnosis isn’t an immediate death sentence – that you have to choose to fight – and choose to live, and live each of the days as a gift, and to the fullest. Would I do it again? Yes, if it would get me back to where I am today – happy.
I loved the line someone used earlier – Cancer still sucks, but it opened my eyes. Just remember my motto every day – “Attitude is Everything – pick a good one”

Such an interesting question. It’s apparent we have similar themes around appreciating life and the people in our lives much more. I see a more fully tuned sense of the present, rather than the past, also flows through the dialog.

I have been diagnosed 4 times, all for breast cancer, all different. I had treatment for 3 of the diagnosis, one time a bone marrow transplant.
I am checked very carefully every six months. LIke clockwork.

You can imagine my surprise when last month I got a new diagnosis, you could have blown me over. I’m still spinning and I’ve been through this so many times before.

I think I could have avoided, all three treatment experiences, and related worries about metastatic cancer, if I’d had both breasts removed, simple.

On the news today, they had a headline about how much breast cancer could be avoided, I think of how I handled my diagnosis and not trusting my instincts.

Yes I know the docs said I had a 2% chance of getting any other cancer, a higher percentage of the return of the “bad” one. But you know, if I wasn’t so wanting to hear “keep the breast” or my doctors weren’t so into the argument around lumpectomy vs. mastectomy, I would never had the bone marrow transplant, or going through another round of treatment for something entirely new today.

I’m still dealing with this new one. I looked for meaning before, but now, I have fully surrendered and have no idea what I’m supposed to get from this experience.

In 2 1/2 weeks I had to abruptly leave my town, come to the Bay Area for treatment, close down my whole life and now slog through chemo and another surgery.

And, I still have to be vigilant about the nasty cancer that initiated the transplant treatment. I can never let that one go completely. I don’t dwell on it, but it is out there for me to ponder from time to time. It is what it is.

I realize I have absolutely no control over anything on this level. My attitude remains positive, even though I am bored to death, can’t do too much right at the moment, and just want to go home and live my “in the present” life.

I am relearning and reminded to trust my instincts and listen to my “withholds” no matter how small. I really think I could have avoided a lot of problems and terrible treatment if I had just listened to myself better.

I heard Lance say once cancer made him who he was. I can relate. I would never wish the experience on anyone, but I am stronger, fitter, more positive, more spiritual, and happier because off the lessons I learned in the battle. I cherish each day. I cherish my wife, family and friends. Life has more texture, and it is rich.

I suffered through 2 years of misdiagnosis, knowing something was wrong with me but hearing the same things every time I went to the doctor. Oh, your just anemic and you probably have acid reflux… take some iron pills and prilosec and watch what eat.

If I had not pushed and begged the last doctor to do something I would probably be dead today.

I learned to listen to my body and not to take changes with my health.

Great post!

I survived anal cancer. The experience made me a better person and showed my what my purpose is… that is to make a difference in the cancer community. Volunteering to visit patients and to raise money to fight the disease has given me the ability to show my kids how one person CAN make a difference.

In 2007, my daughter was dx w/ leukemia at the age of 7; six months later, I was dx with breast cancer. While I am not thankful for either diagnosis, I can see how cancer has brought on positive experiences. Through our diagnosis, we saw another world where children were so terribly sick and families were devastated both emotionally and financially. Thus Emily?s Hopeful Holiday was born. (http://emilyshopefulholiday.wordpress.com/) Raising money for families whose children have cancer and helping them pay their bills so they do not have to leave their children while they undergo treatments has been very fulfilling. Now we are able to share with others the love and support that was given to us during our challenging journey.

Cancer itself, I could do without. However, I’m exceptionally grateful for the attitude adjustment it delivered and the fantastic people all around the globe who are now my friends, because of our common experiences and commitment.

I struggled for years with a “reactive” lymph node. I kept going back to the ent and she kept telling me that it was going to “flare” up every so often and that I can live with it. I finally got tired of it and after steriods and antibiotics and cat scans I asked for her to take it out. Low and behold behind my saliva gland was a lymph node full of squamous cell carcinoma. I was told I had cancer and they did not know where the primary site was. What a jaw dropping, kick in the stomach, rug out from under your feet all at the same time experience.
I learned alot about my cancer and never questioned how I got it. That was behind me now. I just wanted to know how to get rid of it. You really need to inform yourself when in this new world. Get all the info that you can. Another big thing is to stay positive. No matter what, you cant get down and low. I tried to look at myself everyday during treatment and tell myself I made it thru another day and that I am one more day closer to the end of the treatment. I even had my family and friends surprise me with a piece of paper with the number of treatments left on a decorated paper. I would take it into treatments everyday. I looked forward to seeing who colored what and how things were decorated. I still have them all.
Be strong, Be informed, Be POSITIVE, Be well.

“Life is what’s happening to you while you’re busy making other plans” – (John Lennon)

From the day i was diagnosed i continiously counted my blessings. I have been healthy for 53 whole years, except an occasional flue or small fracture. I was and am still blessed, but my appreciation of life changed dramaticly since that day. May the hope and pleasure in life i experience nowadays inspire those who are still 100% healthy. Your faith – or the faith of one of your loved-ones – can change anyday.

Enjoy life to the full. Be a mild person. Any given day.

Bless.

Cancer transformed my life. I’m at one year from diagnosis, still undergoing my 15-month chemotherapy treatment, so I’m still in the midst of the battle. I learned how resilient and tough I really am. Is my core steel or butter is a favorite question of mine these days. My blog http://www.amyshealth.com is cathartic for me, allowing me to give voice to the fears, strengths, relationships and thoughts that go along with the surreal cancer journey.

I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage 3 Non Hodgkin B-Cell Lymphoma in October of 2009 and I can say that good things came out of my battle with cancer.

First, I found out just how tough I can be when forced to look at death straight in the eyes. The human body can take a lot and I stared down death and told it to go find someone else.

Second, although I like to think I was a pretty compassionate person, cancer made me even more compassionate and made me think about the “we” more and less about the “me”. There is so much that is wrong in this world when it comes to inequality in our health care system, and this experience made me even more aware of that and even more determined to be a part of the solution. As difficult as it was for me to go through 8 rounds of high dose chemotherapy, I am lucky in that I have fantastic health insurance. I cannot imagine being the parent of a child with cancer, or the child of a parent with cancer, who has no insurance and practically has to beg for care to save their life. That is morally wrong, and I’m proud that LIVESTRONG fights for patient’s rights and health care reform each and every day. One look into a child’s eyes who is suffering from cancer will give you a completely different perspective on what it means to be compassionate.

Third, I discovered the little things that used to irritate me each and every day (especially work related things) are not that big of a deal and there are more important things to be concerned with like family, friends, love, and compassion for others – everything else is secondary.

Finally, I learned to love life again when faced with the possibility of losing it. For too many years I had been just coasting along day-to-day, going through the motions at work, and repeating the pattern. No more. Now, I look at each day and think “what can I do today to make an impact, change someone’s life, and have fun at the same time?”

There is no doubt that cancer sucks and there have been far too many who have sacrificed before us so that we may live, but you have to stay positive and hope for a better tomorrow – through action.

LIVESTRONG,

Joe Goedereis
NED/Remission Date: 02/26/2010
Please visit http://www.cuck-fancer.com and support my friend Ben Teller as he fights his cancer once again.

Loosing my mother to breastcancer has made me more determined to fight this disease in every way I possible can.

I believe 100% having Cancer can result in a positive. I was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in Oct of 2006 and was told I was in remission in May of 2007. Granted it is not a fun experience to go through chemo, a million tests and have to fight for your life but you can not pay for that kind of life perspective at 26 years old.

I thank God everyday for beating that disease and giving me that disease because it has made me a better person. I raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, do triathlons, bike races, running races and do more in general in life than I ever have because Cancer made me realize that life is short and we need to enjoy every minute we can. Yes Cancer does take people we love from us but ever negative situation can be turned into a positve, just depends on what kind of person you are and if you want to make your situation into a good thing.

I believe Cancer was a good thing for me and has made me the person I am today!

I’ve dealt with cancer in so many roles over the last 17 years. I cannot say I have found one single moment or event in all of my time dealing with cancer to ever be positive or even remotely positive.

I truly wish I had never heard of the disease, but that was never my or my family’s choice.

Cancer gave me better perspective on what really matters, i.e. health, family and friends. Money, grades, cars, toys, etc. are nice but they don’t make people happy.

The answer is as many have said yes, it was a very positive experience. In so many way, I thought at age 33, I had it all. A top job on wall street, in which I made more money than I thought possible. I also thought that was a measure of success. I was wrong about the money part. I was able to focus on helping small companies raise the money to develope several drugs. Gleevec , for CML and Gastro Stromal tumors. Also one of the first ‘genetic switch ” meds made.

My diagnosis came from what I once would have called a bizzare event. I came to know it was’devinely inspired.I went to the 96 Olympics, and had met Lance . I found a 2 week old USA Today newspaper on a MARTA train, which had only the front and inside page, in which Lance held a news conference about his diagnosis. Inside page has more, but also had a box which detailed the TSE. I had never heard of testicular cancer before. I did the TSE the second I got home, and sure enough, I had a lump. It was strange asking my friends to come feel my “buddy” but it was there.Took weeks to get into a Dr, but in those weeks, I was on the floor, in extreme pain.

The Urologist had pamplets in his waiting room on TC. I read one and knew. The Dr examined me and looked up and said, ” what are you doing today? I think you have cancer”. That was my first moment of knowing my life had changed.

Someone gave me my first computer( not so mainstream in 96 ) and I stumbled onto a site Founded by some guys named Chris Brewer and Doug Bank called the TCRC. It had just started approx sept 96. I lurked for a while , but knew I had found a home. The things that site did to bring information and support , was a gift from God. I wish someday someone would really document what these guys did. Not only did they provide information on how to be created correctly, but they changed decades of men avoiding the Dr, especially for men who would rather ignore than see a Dr for something “down there” Chris and Doug changed a whole mentality. I knew that was devine intervention into what was a massive issue. Groinus ingnoramous. Lance, and his wife, who had her ” corner” let us know we were not alone.

Throughtout my treatment, it wasn’t friends or family, it was total strangers who became my support. They came out of nowhere when I needed a shoulder. Maybe they had been all the time, and I didn’t see them. When I did, they were everywhere . I joined a suppoert group, and out of the 30 people there when I joined, in 3 months it was I and two others left. That happened twice. I felt guilty, but these people taught me so much. Went out of their own problems , to make sure my life would mean something. I can to this day, name every one..

I have spent the years since helping others who were in the same boat as me. Insurance problems, etc. I have met and have friends from this experience that will last a lifetime. I have many who are no longer with us, and for them, I try to make it count.

I used to wish I had my body back, as the toll to it, was hard, but I make it. It wasn’t my hair, my aged body 10 years in 2 years. Sometimes i dont feel in my 40′s, and when a Dr tells me it is age , I always tell him I have no reference point to growing old nataurally.

But I am thankful for the experience, and the experiences I have had with people over he years. I don’t wish it on anyone, but in ways I am glad that I was able to grow as a person because of the cancer experience. I appreciate each and everyday, and have always held dear the promise i made to one in my support group. Ray, whom I would have never crossed path’s with except for the cancer experience. He came to his last support group meeting, near the end of his journey, only to tell me to make it count . I have not always been perfect at that, but I am up there.

So bottom line, yes, it was a very positive experience . I cannot say I would be the person I am today , had I had not been through the fight . I talk to many who have siad that it was a positive experience . I, and I know others , as wierd as it sounds, are thanfull for the many blessing that were recieved, in spite of the losses.

It changed everything I thought was important. I follwed my dream and went back to school, becoming a Chef and wine expert. I learned money was not a measure, it was just a tool. I learned about who I was inside. The real me.

When I look back at the last five and half years since my then four-year-old son, Spencer, was diagnosed with leukemia, I see the good and the bad. We are among the lucky: we had good health insurance, we had the financial flexibility that allowed me to leave work to care for him, his leukemia went into remission quickly, the 3 years and two months of chemotherapy were fairly kind to him. For us the big, ugly, immediate bad of cancer loomed near, but never really hit us.

Spencer’s response was to get on with life. When we were still in the hospital doing induction chemotherapy, we started talking about how lucky we were and focusing on how to help others. He set a goal of riding the LIVESTRONG Challenge and raising enough money to get to meet Lance. When he still had trouble walking during his initial intense phase of chemotherapy, he hobbled down the hall and asked if he could restart his martial arts lessons. When his immune system was weak (and after getting approval from his oncologist), he and I would take road trips to state parks and go hiking, though sometimes I had to carry him. We publicized his fight cancer cancer, not just his cancer, but cancer in general. Over the past five years I have watched him grow as a human being in ways that still amaze me.

Last year, he was asked to be in a photo shoot to help promote the LIVESTRONG Challenge. The theme was “what would you say to cancer?” When they wanted a shot with “the look” – an evil eye for cancer – the photographer asked Spencer “what would you say cancer did to you?” Spencer paused, and then said “a lot of really good things happened to me because of cancer” and began to enumerate some of them with a smile. The photographer asked “what makes you REALLY mad?” and Spencer quickly responded with game face “My brother when he steals my toys”. Click. That’s the shot they used for the promo.

Darkness still looms at the fringes even though cancer is no longer at the center of our lives. This week he goes in for a visit to the survivorship clinic and an echocardiogram to see if the chemotherapy damaged his heart. Over the next 20 years he is ten times more likely to get cancer than others his age. The price of cancer is still too high, but for us, it has had its benefits.