This past Sunday was Cancer Survivor Day. It’s the 2nd year I haven’t celebrated my survivorship because it’s the 2nd year my boys didn’t have their dad and don’t have the ability to celebrate survivorship for him. He lost his battle 14 months ago.
While I would like to celebrate my 9th year since the cancer came out of my body with surgery, then 2 plus years of grueling treatment, it feels just a little bit harder to shout from everywhere my years of survivorship while it’s so painful and each day is filled with such sadness and still disbelief for my boys and our family.
So I am using this opportunity to share the following:
1 - It is ok to be a survivor and to remember and think about those who didn’t make it.
2 - We can’t say it enough, but early detection may be the difference between surviving and not surviving.
3 - Language and consideration are important. Triggers are everywhere. I spoke to my son about my celebratory post and we decided together, I would share today.
4 - Share Your Language!
A colleague from 15 years ago was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last week and we were on the phone speaking about her teenage kids. I shared with her that I emailed my kids’ teachers, parents of their friends and anyone we encountered with the language that we shared with my boys when their dad and I first separated. I did the same when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and I did the same again, when their dad was diagnosed with Oral Cancer.
I always found it helpful and important that everyone in my boy's world had the same information that they had. I also told my kids I was doing that, so they knew others also knew. It wasn’t a secret. Everyone could support my boys, they would all feel comfortable talking about it and my kids found it comforting that people in their world knew the correct information.
