When did cancer go from being the 'Big C' as in you are going to DIE to 'oh, I've got cancer but I'm going to climb Mount Everest next year after chemo'? I'm not sure but I think I have been along for the ride.
In 1981 cancer was very scary. It was a death sentence. The only people you knew with cancer were grandparents who were old anyway and a few small children and younger adults who were going to tragically die as if they were in a romance novel. You weren't supposed to live. When you were diagnosed, you were supposed to go off into the sunset prematurely and sit around balding and palely fade away.
Some where along the way, we got cancer walks, runs, bike rides, road races, walkathons, buttons, bracelets, colors for every kind of cancer, fundraisers, awareness raisers, donation requests, pink football helmets, Pinktober, and more. Cancer is everywhere but now it is recognized everywhere. People talk about their cancer, they talk about other people's cancers, they fundraise to help their friends pay their bills, they participate in the walks, runs and the other activities.
We have words to describe us now: survivor, battlers, warriors, with hope and inspiration. But sorry I don't like this part, skip the labels please. We are people living with cancer, not dying from cancer. Its a matter of perspective and living our lives. We are not battling, surviving or going to war. We are living.
2 comments:
YEY! Awesome post Caroline! Hilarious first sentence we hear a lot here in Belgium too :)
Love this. It's so true. It helps us get through the bullshit when the world takes a good perspective too.
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