Ahem, let's not forget those with metastatic cancer as Pinktober does. Tomorrow, October 13, is the designated pink metastatic cancer day. Why only one day?
Metastatic cancer of any kind is the 'BAD' kind. The kind that is whispered about. It doesn't get awareness, pinkification, walks, cheeriness, and all that.
Metastatic cancer is what really needs a cure. Its is the kind of cancer that has started to move around your body, affecting organs, bone, and even brain.
Right now with metastatic cancer you are in a holding pattern for life. Actually, for your life.
The cheeriness that comes along with pinkificiation is a slap in the face to women with stage IV breast cancer. What are the words that pinkification is supposed to identify - prevention, cure, survivorship, awareness? There is no cure for metastatic cancer. There is no survivorship involved - there is no way out. There is no awareness of metastatic cancer.
Showing posts with label metastatic cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metastatic cancer. Show all posts
Being an inspiration
Some people have said I am an inspiration to them. I have never really figured out why. Maybe its the two cancer thing. I don't get it. The only inspirations I ever have are how to be more lazy and take a nap. I have not saved the world, raised millions for cancer research or anything so profound. I can be whiney at the drop of a hat (ask my husband for proof).
I am also not someone who celebrates cancerversaries. I dont think they are worthy of notice. But every so often we run into events which are worth noting - like birthdays - they always deserve notice.
However here is a woman who is an inspiration. Jill over at Dancing With Cancer: Living With Mets just celebrated ten years of metastases. Many people when they first think of metastases that this is the end. However we have Jill as living proof that metastases are not the end. If you don't read her blog, you should. She is a normal person dancing with cancer, living with mets.
I am also not someone who celebrates cancerversaries. I dont think they are worthy of notice. But every so often we run into events which are worth noting - like birthdays - they always deserve notice.
However here is a woman who is an inspiration. Jill over at Dancing With Cancer: Living With Mets just celebrated ten years of metastases. Many people when they first think of metastases that this is the end. However we have Jill as living proof that metastases are not the end. If you don't read her blog, you should. She is a normal person dancing with cancer, living with mets.
Stressed? Depressed?
Is there anyone who can claim they are either not stressed or not depressed? No. Especially cancer patients. Cancer patients are (I think) 25-30% more likely to suffer from depression and a cancer diagnosis is a tiny bit stressful.
There was a new study (because we needed a new study to keep all those researchers busy) that shows that stress and depression '...primes the bone environment for breast cancer cell metastasis.' Well, how do I become unstressed and undepressed about a cancer diagnosis? If they can't cure cancer, why can't they at least fix the stress and depression?
We could be happy and relaxed cancer patients instead of stressed and depressed cancer patients and help prevent breast cell colonization of bone - another fancy term from the article.
The goal of cancer treatment is to prevent metastases so this is another area to focus on.
There was a new study (because we needed a new study to keep all those researchers busy) that shows that stress and depression '...primes the bone environment for breast cancer cell metastasis.' Well, how do I become unstressed and undepressed about a cancer diagnosis? If they can't cure cancer, why can't they at least fix the stress and depression?
We could be happy and relaxed cancer patients instead of stressed and depressed cancer patients and help prevent breast cell colonization of bone - another fancy term from the article.
The goal of cancer treatment is to prevent metastases so this is another area to focus on.
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