Skip to main content

The Look of Cancer

I was wondering about something today and came up with what is the true look of cancer?
Odd question? Not really considering there's a misconception on how people perceive the ill to look.
This is me....
 
I'll be a 5 year cancer survivor this October, which would be exact time I was officially diagnosed with mm. You look at me what do you see? My hair looks intact, I'm smiling through it all, my eyes are not sunken in.....
 

Last year my husband and I went to a community fair, one of the participants were The American Cancer Society representing a survey to that tracks individual health in relation to later health problems like cancer. Since I was already diagnosed with cancer my husband decided to take part, which would consist of a later appointment and blood work to keep in file, when the ladies asked me if I wanted to take part along with my husband, I announced that I currently have cancer...
well the look they gave me was unsettling, because it consisted of shock, and the opposite of why they were there to represent the cause. It was as if a person with cancer walked in on the party and now the room is quiet on the circumstances. Well I must say I didn't like it.... quite frankly I was a bit perturbed, or straight up pissed! I don't know about you but I tend to find myself feeling like I have to prove I have something I don't want, because I don't look like what people perceive this "it" to look like. It is very unsettling to deal with the various prejudices that come with cancer.

 
One such prejudice is you don't look like you're not feeling up to par. I may have it all together in my exterior packaging, but doesn't mean I may not have an off day, again I'm fortunate than many of my newfound mm friends that are going through in a harsh way with this disease, don't make me have to shed blood and display a microscope showing rapid myeloma cells crowding my marrow.... I mean really!!
 
Stop Pissing me off!
 
Y
 

 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Plugging Multiple Myeloma

I had a wonderful conversation with a new friend on the trials of myeloma, and it was interesting that we’ve both experienced to some degree the nonchalant reactions when faced with our disease. The saying to walk a mile in one's own moccasins could never be far from the truth, sometimes you get the feeling that no one cares or your cause and or experience is not of interest...., or better yet taken seriously.... I'm reviewing various sources to promote Another Face of Multiple Myeloma , and after extensive research I found there a not many books on patient related experiences, which I find odd, with the exception of popular myeloma blogger Pat Killingsley, I found just two other personal stories from author's penned memoirs on myeloma, and one unfortunately passed away and the other I'm desperately trying to gather contact information. I was in the process of working with a top myeloma foundation to present my book to readers that could possbly relate to my experi...

Out of Commision

Hello Fellow Readers, Excuse the short absence. I was ill with some kind of strange viral infection- that no one knows for sure what it was..... This was one time I knew for sure MM was about to be the death of me! What started off as a quick turn sore throat to losing my voice in 1 day, to an ear infection the next day, to horrendous back spasms- i cannot tell you how much pain i was in. Now this may not have had anything to do with MM, but the back spasm and me crawling and dropping to the floor due to the pain.... I cannot tell you how crazy the experience has been. My concern was even more intense with the back spasms, as it was at my lower spine, where I already have small indications of lesions, so you can imagine how scary this was. I recovered from this, but hope there was no damage done, but my practioner assured me if there was fractions, I would not be about to bend and do some of the tests he had me do. I'll need to share this experience with my oncologist in th...

Healthy Snacks-2014... Crunch Appeal

Okay, so you all know I'm trying to limit my sugar  and chicken intake. I'm very mindful of sugar and when enough is enough, so I still have a way to go. I came upon a recipe some years ago when diagnosed with myeloma and reading on the benefits of adding flax seed to diet. Flax seed is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids, which helps in reducing bone lost, stabilizing blood sugar, promoting weight loss, as well as increasing your immune system. I have to admit I'm a snacker and it's something about getting the munchies just when it's time to call it a night that the snack attack occurs. I like snacks that crunch... I don't know maybe it's a mental thing or something. Today, we're snowed in and I need a break from my business at Spitfir, so I've played around for tonight's snack when "The Walking Dead" series comes on:) Shall we begin?? Let's rock.....                     ...