World Cancer Day

Your regularly scheduled Monday mantra is being interrupted today for the sake of something more important - World Cancer Day.  Although this day would be important to me regardless, the focus of World Cancer Day 2013 really struck a chord with me:

                    World Cancer Day 2013 (4 February 2013) will focus on Target 5

                  of the World Cancer Declaration: Dispel damaging myths and

                  misconceptions about cancer, under the tagline “Cancer - Did

                  you know?”. World Cancer Day is a chance to raise our collective

                  voices in the name of improving general knowledge around cancer

                  and dismissing misconceptions about the disease.

From here.

Most of you know by now that one of the things that motivates me is the desire to motivate others to help fund cancer research - and to recognize that it doesn't take large donations do to do that.  Every bit helps - be it $1 or $5 or $10.  When pooled together, those small donations make an enormous impact.  And will find the cure for cancer.

But another reason why I basically strip emotionally and healthfully buck-naked for all of #RVA is to help dispel the myths surrounding cancer.  Because there are still way too many.  So lets take a look at the four myths being focused on as part of World Cancer Day 2013.

Source

Myth 1: Cancer is just a health issue.

No.  Just . . . no. 

(Hang on, I have to get my hysterics under control before I continue.)

Its a financial issue.  How are you going to pay for your treatments?  Even with VERY good health insurance, it was just four years ago that I finally paid off the debt I accrued from co-payments and prescriptions.  Even today, each MRI and CT scan has to be budgeted for - WITH VERY GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE.  That cap on pre-tax health care spending accounts?  I blow through that like a Kardashian at Fashion Week.

Its a self-image issue.  "You don't look as much like a skeleton as I thought you would."  "Why, thank you . . . ?" (Yes - real conversation).  Will I still look like me through treatment?  After?  Will people wonder about my radiation tattoos?  Will i always notice them?  What about the surgery scars? 

Its an issue of how you see yourself fitting into society.  You might die.   You could have died.  What do all these people who havent experienced this know?  You are bald but didnt choose to be.  Who are these people to worry for hours about hair color?  How can you ever just be and fit in?  How can you ever be "normal" like everyone else again? 

Its a psychological issue. There is no such thing as "just a headache".  An extra-tiring run means you're headed home to fully examine all of your lymph nodes.  You see things in a way that few people can understand and when you find someone else who does you LATCH ON.  Tight. 

Myth 2: Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries.

I was 23 and pretty fresh out of college when I was diagnosed.  I was 22 when I first developed the symptoms that would lead to that diagnosis.  Cancer can happen to anyone.  Any where.  At any time.

Myth 3: Cancer is a death sentence.

Im still here.  Lots of people are still here.

Have we lost people?   Yes.  Too many.  And its awful.

But every day - and with every dollar - we make progress toward making the number of those we lose shrink right down.

Until one day it will be zero.

Cancer is not a death sentence.  And some day, it wont even make death a possibility. 

Myth 4: Cancer is my fate.

According to one of my oncologists, if it were statistically possible, I would have greater than a 100% chance of developing cancer again. 

BUT CANCER IS NOT MY FATE.

It is no one's fate. 

Why?

Because we can run, and practice yoga, and play soccer, and swim.  1 in 7 cancers can be prevented through a healthy and active lifestyle.

Because we can choose what goes into our bodies and what doesnt.  Im not perfect at this.  But I try.  And each time we pass up that 2nd beer or that drive through window, we tell cancer it wont be that easy to get to us.

Because we have the power to carry our end of the research bargain.  Researchers are 1/2 of the equation.  We are the other.  Its up to us to make sure they have the funds to continue to work on finding better treatments - and a cure.  Your $10 donation, partnered with hundreds of others' $10 donations - they have the power to ensure that we see that cure in our lifetimes.

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Want to do something help the fight in honor of World Cancer Day?  You still have a few hours to snag an "UNDER SURVEILLANCE" shirt - $15 from each sale benefits the groundbreaking research happening at VCU Massey Cancer Center.  Click here to get one before its too late!