“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”
That’s a quote I recently saw at my doctor’s office and I’ve been living by those words every day since I was diagnosed with cancer.
I have been doing more outside, like fishing and camping, and less sitting in front of the TV. Not because I’m dying (trust me I’m going to make it), but because I’ve noticed that life is too short.
For the first three months of doctor’s thinking it was ‘pre-cancer’ cells I was going through a lot of pain. I was being tested weekly and then I was fully diagnosed on New Year’s Eve. After my surgery to remove the cancer my friends, family and boyfriend really helped me get around the house or do things I couldn’t do, easy things like make a bowl of cereal. I never noticed how much people cared until I was diagnosed. I want to thank them for helping me through this.
One thing I don’t think people realize is it’s not just the pain that gets to a person with cancer, it’s the fact that they were diagnosed with it, the mental part. I’ve had numerous breakdowns since I was diagnosed, knowing that I still have a long battle but knowing the surgery forced them to take a part of my life away I can’t ever get back. But I still have a life.
I won’t know if the cancer is gone until my next surgery in a few months. Until then I will be pushing others to get tested for cancer. Whatever that entails and go to the doctor if you are in pain. It saved my life and it could save yours.
