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The New Face of Cancer

DragonflyDream
  • By DragonflyDream
  • Posted August 5, 2008 at 9:41 am · 41 replies
  • Shared with the public
3 Recommendations

Okay, since the other day when I was so bummed and upset about a comment made by someone who has no clue what it is to FIGHT everyday for one's life I decided that since I "looked so good" that I should become the new face of cancer. Why not? What the heck? So I don't look as good as I have in times past but shoot, I still look healthy. So today I proclaim to the world that Alice is the New Face Of Cancer! So be it! Check my blog to see the lasted shot of me looking too good to really have cancer! Eh!

Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:

Cancer Taxol Surgery Breast cancer Ovarian cancer Pain Adriamycin Depression Lung cancer Bladder cancer

41 replies

Chemo2

Don't be upset with people who make comments about fighting cancer. They can not possibly understand. I used to get angry too, until one day my surgeon who is a surgical ongologist said in response to a question, "I don't know, I have never had cancer!" From that moment, I stopped getting angry at people who have never had cancer! Cancer is blind, it attacks everyone, it attacks thin people, heavy people, attractive and homley alike. Cancer has no face it just is! Best wishes to you!

peggyr

how wonderful that you got to this new place and turned the negative to positve!!! We are made with fantastic abilities to keep on keepin' on if we ride the wave of anger or whatever until it gets us to creativity and resolution!!!

people just don't know... depending on my mood, when someone says "you look great" I say a simple "thanks" or maybe, "at least one of my systems is working!!!"

I have found it important to talk about things when I get stuck on something. I can work thru some things on my own but not always. That helps me to move along the emotional path and dump the garbage out of my system.

Sorry, maybe I have gotten off your point but this was off the top of my head..

You go Alice!!!!!

JoAnn06

That's right, YOU go, Alice!!! Those who've never had cancer don't understand. They are clueless!
What is the face of cancer? It's you, me, the ladies on this board, and anyone else afflicted by this disease.
Try not getting angry at them...........it's not worth the energy.
I'm going to check out that pic and I bet it's beautiful!
JoAnn

"The only way to reach your long-range goals is through surviving your short-range objectives."
--Anonymous

KellyRilla

Oh I get those comments all the time. "You can't really be getting chemo, you still have hair." Ha! I've been on chemo for nearly 2 years non stop! Did the bald thing, and now my hair is back. Big whoop!

This is my favorite. "I just knew you'd be cured." Cured? What's that? I know, I just look too good to be living with tumors in me. But that's just it. I'm "living with cancer." With LIVING being the key word there!

I am starting to let depression creep in from time to time and I have to work on that. Just looking at my granddaughter's picture makes me smile and I hope it does for you too! She's saying "phooey on cancer!"

BrendaMousey

DragonFly, you are SO fun. I am actually thinking of writing a book of dumb things people have said to me when they find out I have lung cancer. Many don't know I have also had a stage 4 "something else" not related at all to the lung in 03. People at church, and even family say "but you look really good" What does that mean????? How are you suppose to look when you have cancer? Sometimes I say "thanks" and if it is a bad pain day, which most are, I say "I guess pain agrees with me." Today I went to the drug store and a lady I hardly knew came up to me and said "Do you still have cancer?" I was so floored, I said "I don't know, let me look" and I looked up and down to my feet and said "no I don't guess I do"
God bless you, and I think you are beautiful!
Brenda Mousey

janiegirl

Alice, I get that all the time, including from my doctors and the nurses. I have had tachycardia with my heart rate at times over 150 since the first month of treatment and it has continued and I am now 3 months out from treatment. I could not get anyone to take this seriously because "I looked so good". Finally, one day a nurse got really concerned and then so did everyone else. Now, all they talk about is my heart. I am going to have a cardiac cath Aug 28th, but I still "look good/healthy. I think they are confused by my healthy spirit in spite of the fact my body is less than healthy at present, That's OK as long as they don't overlook something that could cause me harm. Jane

goldi

Dear Dragonfly Dream
I'm from Israel.I'm 55 years old diagnosed on jult 2007 nsclc stage 4.
I also look very good and healthy and no one can believe that I'm a cancer fighter.Usually I say that it's the best part to look well,but sometimes when I go to different authorities they don't beleive me "It can't be,show your papers" they say.I prefer this way to look and feel happy.I use to say ; "If your life are lemon turn it into lemonade"Keep smiling and laughing. Goldi

J-me

You Go Girl!!!

Rock On!!!

DragonflyDream

"Cheerful is as cheerful does-
Big smiles are all the rage,
So, don't be shy come on and try
Go twinkle, center stage!
Giggle, laugh and carry on-
See what "Good Will" can do.
The world will be a brighter place
Because of cheerful you...!
--Bea Lotz

Kerstin

Hello, you made me laugh so ahrd and all the other answers too. I get the same stuff all the time.Life is to short to argue with stupidity.
God bless you and smile
Kerstin

BJW

I'm not too computer savvy. How do I check your blog? Thanks

crystalbear

oh yes, me too, looking good on the outside but feeling bad on the inside, my soul hurts.....

Alisa

Here's more FACES OF CANCER. Me, the survivor, and my sons, who also suffered from my cancer.

Others are usually surprised when they hear I am a lung cancer survivor. After they ask if I smoked, then they say "I look good" for having cancer .....

Best not to get nuts over these type of comments. Better to save our strength for surviving!

peyz33

I know - they look at me and think I'm on some great drugs - people are "clueless" - you don'thave to be from Seattle......
lol

Karen

cindybear

Me too. I get all the time you can't have cancer you look too healthy. It's very irritating like I am faking it or making it all up. I just say thanks and ignore their stupidity. I don't have much energy as it is and I am not going to waste it on ignorant people. Until you live with this horrible illness you will never know how much it hurts emotionally and physically. I love your picture so hang in their we will survive!

Hugs, Cindybear

D1

I think people mean well. I don't think they know what to say. I think they want to think you're well, all better. There's a child within who fears cancer, who wants to deny it, who wants to make it go away. My husband felt better living with the LC BEFORE surgery, than he has ever felt since surgery and the effects of chemo. Unlike most here, he chose to never tell a soul he had LC. So, he doesn't have to deal with....how do you feel, you look healthy, do you still have cancer....It's his dark secret. But, I really think people are sweet and innocent and almost can't comprehend that this has happened to someone they know. God bless you for your good looks and good attitude; may they continue to serve you well.

Beachbabe

If I looked how I feel half the time, I would be a very scary, scary woman! A friend told me she thinks I'm wearing my spirit on the outside...perhaps that's our "secret"...we are wearing our spirits on the outside!

barb366

You all make me chuckle and feel not alone.

My mom says "What's happening to you, is a lesson for all of us to appreciate life." and "We will have our miracle" Sounds good but....Thanks...like I really wanted to volunteer for that assignment.

DragonflyDream

Wow, yes, I too agree, I and we ARE wearing our spirit on the outside. Love that!!!!!!

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith

Here's looking at you kids!!!!!

Ahaha

I work hard at looking good, because looking good helps me to feel just a little bit better. Of course, if all that someone says is "you look good," then I don't think they are in touch with my reality. It's up to me, then, if they are someone who matters to me, to let them know that the inside is not feeling as good as the outside is looking.
If it's a casual acquaintance, their saying "you look good," is just like saying, "How are you." "Fine thanks," and just leave it at that. Deep answers are not expected. The denial of death is deeply entrenched in our folkways.
Even so, if anyone thinks I look good, I'm glad. At my age -- 66-- I have to work at it. On Wednesday, even the doctor and the nurses kept saying "you look so good, but the blood tests show that you need two units of blood." It was makeup! I went to that American Cancer Society seminary, "Look good, feel better." If you haven't been, I highly recommend it: $100--$200 of free makeup and advice on how to deal with the special problems, like loosing eyebrows.

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