National Cancer Survivor's Day: A day of gratitude and why me
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) pioneered the definition of survivor as being any person diagnosed with cancer, from the time of initial diagnosis until his or her death. This expansive definition of "survivor" includes people who are dying from untreatable cancer.
Today is the first Sunday in June. It's the thirty anniversary of National Cancer Survivor's Day. It's a day more than sixteen million people in the United States celebrate "surviving" cancer. Along with the celebration comes a lot of "why me?"
People who have survived cancer have a lot of those thoughts. "Why me" and not my twelve year old cousin who died of leukemia? "Why me" and not my friends who have lost children? "Why me" and not my friend who died of Melanoma at age 53? "Why me" and not the more than 600,000 who died from cancer in 2017?
For me, those thoughts are usually in the back of my mind. This day brings them up front.
Don't get me wrong....I'm grateful that my minor case of Melanoma (if there is such a thing) was found early. I'm grateful that it was treatable with minor surgery (if there is such a thing). I'm grateful that there is no sign of a recurrence. I'm grateful that my follow-ups are twice a year visits with my dermatologist and some simple self care.
On this National Cancer Survivor's Day, I'm oozing with gratitude for all of this and will continue to live my life feeling that way. Yet I still have that "why me" thing going on and I'm sure that will continue, too.
Related and most recent post: I hope my friend is still alive
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