CFN – Today is Cancer Survivor’s Day. It’s a day that will be meaningful to most survivors and their loved ones, in many different ways. To those who have just started their journey, it is a day of hope; that one day they may look back at the tremendous effort they made, and be proud of how they handled it, and thankful for the most special people that are closest to them, and the support they got during hospitalizations, after surgery, and during radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Many early survivors, as I once did, aspire to get to that five year cancer free milestone. The road there is full of surprises, changes, turns in the road, enlightenedness, and knowledge.
As I look back at my own journey, I am always amazed at how far I have come, and how my life has changed. Since my diagnosis, reading and keeping up with cancer news has been really important. As social media has become more important, cancer patients and survivors have a multitude of blogs websites and tweetchats at their disposal. As with my lifepowerblog, many blogs by survivors, and even non survivors, are inspiring and helpful; especially about the little things…..ones that health care professionals don’t bother telling you. Sharing our journey with you is also therapeutic. The words just poured out of me when I started this blog. And with every one, I became stronger and stronger. Blogs I have especially enjoyed are Lissa Rankin, for her healthy life perspective; Kris Carr, for her healthy recipes and green juice; Gabrielle Bernstein for her “spiritjunkieness” and motivation to meditate; and Sue Carter Ansari, and her beautiful and healthy raw cooking……to name a few.
But that’s not all….
Not all cancer survivors will agree, but cancer gave me my life back. It was the wakeup call I didn’t listen to when it was only a whisper. It encouraged me to look at my own life, and what was working and what wasn’t.
As a result some friends and acquaintances became better ones, others; many of whom were too afraid to “catch” my disease, or felt awkward because they had no idea what to say, or what to do, simply disappeared.
Survivorship has been good to me in the way I treat my body. Over time I have changed my diet considerably, and have even become a good cook. Being in the kitchen and preparing fresh healthy foods is one of the ways I relax now. I can often be seen on a Sunday morning sifting through my many cookbooks for inspiration, and thrilled at the prospect of trying something new. Prepared foods don’t exist in my house. Everything is made with loving care.
Regular exercise has also been key. I will always be grateful that I started running, even before my breast cancer diagnosis. Running helped me in my darkest days, and darkest moments. There have even been reports coming out regarding the benefits of running during chemotherapy. I can attest to that, as I didn’t suffer from the extreme fatigue that hits many patients as a result of treatment. I truly believe that running made the difference, and provided me with that added boost of energy that was so important during eight rounds of chemotherapy. Running, along with my almost daily meditation have been the base of my support system on the road of survivorship.
There is a no nonsense attitude that has also seemed to incorporate itself in the survivor me. I mean this in a really good way……but I really don’t care what people think (sorry to my three daughters, who are sometimes horrified by this). Where I used to be shy to ask a question, or ask for what I want, I am now more outspoken. Discussions with total strangers are more common, and I will ask questions until I’m satisfied with the answers, or until I understand. When I forget someone’s name….I’m no longer deeply embarrassed, but simply blame it on chemobrain!
And yes….I sometimes go to the grocery store with dirt on my face, in my cut off sweats, gardening shoes and my straw cowboy hat!
And so is life as I know it now. Mahatma Gandhi once said “My life is my message”. My life IS my message. A wonderful, challenging, adventurous, peaceful, meaningful, inspirational, positive and beautiful life that I am grateful for with each surviving day.
Happy Cancer Survivor’s Day. May those of us who put up the fight and won, provide the inspiration and knowledge to help those who follow in our footsteps.
Andrea Paine has been writing speeches for cabinet Ministers and members of the National Assembly and of Parliament throughout her years in politics. More recently, she turned her talents to writing an inspirational blog found at www.lifepowerblog.ca, and is a published author, with a chapter in a book by British journalist, Chris Geiger. Andrea has also been involved in public speaking, having been on the speaker’s circuit on behalf of the St-Mary’s Hospital breast cancer foundation in 2011, as well as a presenter, in 2012 and 2013, for the Federated Press Annual Conference on “Working with Ministers and Parliament” in Ottawa.
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