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