Days on the calendar reminding us of what we love, embrace, are actively involved in, and remind us that these commemorative days fill us with emotions, good and bad. There are holidays that have been on the calendar throughout history. Social media has caused new and interesting ones celebrating food, fun, and other trivial items uniting those who join in. Cancer Survivor’s Day, from my research, began in 1988. What does it mean to those who have survived? I decided to listen to those in my community and share thoughts on Cancer Survivor’s Day and some thoughts from personal Journeys.
DiepCJourney: Thoughts on Cancer Survivor’s Day
I began the closed Facebook group, DiepCJourney: Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy in May of 2015 after my successful DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Being a two-time breast cancer survivor impacts my life daily. I decided support, finding resources, providing education for others would be my life’s mission and The Journey, as we call it, is very much a part of the work at the Foundation I began in 2016. The women, men, healthcare providers, and caregivers in this closed group drive my mission daily and words of support and inspiration are why I reached out to them to share their personal thoughts on Cancer Survivor’s Day.
Is Cancer Survivor’s Day a Celebration?
Answers varied as you might predict. Like me, some of the women who responded have been affected by cancer more than once. Some have had other forms of cancer that was a shock when they heard the news of a different diagnosis other than breast cancer. Cancer may have affected another family member or best friend. They became the caregiver or the consoler and councilor. Celebration? Not so much for some.
- The emotions are exhausting.
- I am sad for the loss of my mom and so many family members and friends, but grateful and happy to all those who have survived.
- I have not seen any family yet since COVID. Feeling a combination of immense sadness and gratitude together.
- I feel sad and guilty my father-in-law is not here and I am.
- I was diagnosed in August, and it has been a tornado of emotions, surgeries, and appointments.
- I will be sad for those still fighting and praying for them to be healed.
- Cancer has stolen so much from so many in so many different ways.
- Someone who has never experienced an illness cannot begin to realize.
- I think of our current health disparities around the world. I do believe healthcare is a human right.
- It is a mix all the time. I feel like I beat cancer, but the Journey to recovery is beating me…more like I am surviving all the struggles.
- Being a survivor is complicated. It is hard. Figuring out how to move forward, make peace with my scars, deal with my emotions, and process the lasting pain that keeps cancer on my mind all the time.
- Sometimes I am consumed by survivor’s guilt. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with thoughts of “what if”. Could I weather another storm?
- The emotional toll is hard. I will celebrate survivor day quietly and reflect on how far I have come in a year and a half.
- Every cancer story is different, and it is heartbreaking when we see others suffering.
- Some days I feel like a survivor and some days I feel I don’t deserve to wear the title.
The Grateful Heart on Cancer Survivor’s Day
I sense many of us who have been through any type of cancer, and on the Journey specifically breast cancer, see life through a different lens after a diagnosis. Personally I felt as though my life’s internal compass was realigned. I bulled through my first diagnosis with no thought of doing the work I do now. I did what I was told by my healthcare team. I simply wanted to move on and beyond everything a diagnosis brought with it.
But my second diagnosis, and I think even more, my successful DIEP flap breast reconstruction, set me in a new path, yes, a new Journey. Gratitude is a part of my life each day. I always want just one more day. Each day my feet hit the ground I am grateful. It does not mean I don’t have personal frustrations, moments of feeling down, angry, and dealing with the other minutia life throws at you. However, finding gratitude every day is a well-spring and source of appreciating life even more after being diagnosed twice.
What did some of the other respondents on the Journey say?
- I am humbled and grateful for so many things.
- I am humbled by the grace and compassion with which my doctors treated me, grateful for friends and family that stepped up and just “did” because they knew I would not ask.
- Many times, I am awestruck thinking of the love and support that surrounds me. I only hope I can pay forward all that’s been a blessing my life.
- I am so glad to have supportive friends and groups to glean information from.
- I love that it gives us a chance to reflect. I am grateful for the science and dedicated healthcare providers that allow us to be survivors.
- I feel hope, reading about new advances, fervently pray that we get to a place when no one has to go through this.
- I’m proud that I am thriving, though there were moments I wanted to give up.
- I am thankful for those that take their experiences and become advocates for us.
- I am so thankful to be a part of this group because it helped me to not feel so alone and helped guide me to make decisions that I was comfortable with.
- One of the things I learned through it all is, things that used to bother me do not anymore as life is too short and we have to enjoy what we have in the now.
- I am grateful for all the dedicate people who have dedicated their lives to helping women stay healthy and rebuild their body, giving them back some sense of womanhood again.
- I think how lucky I am to be born at this time in humanity. Our ancestors had no access to our treatments, and I mourn for their struggle.
Honoring Everyone’s Journey on Cancer Survivor’s Day
My throat is tight with emotion as I read through these heartfelt comments. There are more and they will continue every day on the Journey. From my heart to everyone who is a cancer survivor, each day I wish you the strength to carry on, move on, and be on the best Journey you can navigate in your life. Thank you immensely on to those who so kindly shared their thoughts on Cancer Survivor’s Day and thoughts from personal Journey members. We are #JourneyStrong!
