It's been awhile, but I just haven't felt like writing anything. Then I saw that today was World Cancer Day and I felt compelled to say something.
I still haven't told a lot of people that I am a cancer survivor. I just don't want to be "that cancer girl." I don't want cancer to define me. I am so much more than a mole that turned out to be cancerous.
I never posted my diagnosis on Facebook because it's not something I wanted to share with the world. It is something personal that I went through and that I continue to go through every time I notice a new mole or feel like one has changed. But I don't need the false sympathy from those who I haven't seen or spoken with in years, and I don't need the real sympathy from those who I know would care, but can't be here since I live on the other side of the country. Cancer will always be a part of my life, but I choose not to let it define my life. Part of that choice was in limiting who I told.
Anyway, World Cancer Day just made me think about all of this. I also saw something today about how we should be focusing more of our resources on prevention rather than just focusing on treatment. I'm on a kind of experimental preventative program with my aspirin-a-day deal, but that's based off of a correlation, not a cause and effect study. If there was something I could do that would ensure that I never get melanoma again, I would be right there. But there is nothing of that sort yet. Maybe one day there won't be a need for World Cancer Day. Until then, I'll keep my fingers crossed that I stay healthy and that a cure comes sooner rather than later.
