Cancer survivors

Who is a Survivor of Cancer? Many people would say the person who has gone through the entire chemo ordeal is a survivor. Others would say that those who are currently in the process of fighting cancer are survivors. We at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life see a survivor as so much more. We know a survivor is born of the person who first hear those words, "You have cancer." From that moment, the fight for survival begins. And from that moment, we stand ready to begin that battle as well. We stand ready to begin the process of giving support, hope, education, and compassion, even a shoulder to anyone who needs it.

Who is a survivor? A survivor is someone who lives each day with the hope of living much longer. A survivor is sometimes strong mentally while physically weak. A survivor often needs others to be strong for them while they rest. A survivor hopes for the best while facing the worst. A survivor looks in the mirror every day, not seeing cancer, but seeing life yet to be lived. Survivors face their fears, anger, guilt, hope and lack of it. Fear of what lies ahead for them. Anger that this is happening to them, and to their loved ones. Guilt at what they could have done, but didn't to prevent this disease. Hope that they'll survive intact. Lack of hope as they are in the midst of a battle with the unknown.

Who are we? Many of us at Relay for Life are cancer survivors ourselves. We are also family members, friends, and neighbors with loved ones who are battling cancer or who have battled cancer. Many of us stand on the other side of that battle without our loved ones beside us. We stand ready again, in the hopes that our experience will help someone keep their loved ones with him or her much longer. We stand ready to face those fears with survivors. We stand ready to help with the anger, and frustration, of dealing with the diagnosis. We stand ready to help with possible guilt, knowing cancer doesn't discriminate with that gets what screening at what time. We share in the realized hope that the battle with cancer is definitely winnable. And we are ready to be strong when lack of hope grabs hold so tight that getting out of bed becomes difficult.

Those words, "You have cancer." are not the end; they are just the beginning...of being a survivor.