My surgery was on Halloween. I wore a tiara and red heels to the hospital. That’s easy to remember. Ask me the date or year of my diagnosis and I have no idea. Cancer has fried my inner calendar.
Daily on Planet Cancer and Facebook I see young adult cancer patients celebrating their cancerversary. My cancerversary doesn’t mean much to me. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been cancer free so there is no end with which to book mark the beginning? Nah, I think I’m just more focused on the day to day than the milestones.
Yesterday, I wondered how long ago I started this blog. I looked it up. June 3rd. Exactly one year. So, I want to dedicate this post (can you say Delilah?) to my fantastic friend Lisa Friedman. She hounded me for about two years to start a blog. I was totally resistant. What would I have to blog about everyday? I found her nagging irritating and she probably found my excuses pathetic.
Well, Lisa, a year later I’m addicted to blogging and I thank you. I have more to blog about than my time allows: I’m finishing posts and series on medical debt, cancer and parenting, patient bills of rights, and the taboo topic of cancer and domestic violence.
Thanks to all of you readers for your brazen comments and sharing your vulnerable experiences. Without you this would be a one sided conversation and instead it is so much more. Happy blogoversary to us all.
Do you celebrate your cancerversary? What would you like to see me blog about during year number two?
“Everything Changes is, without doubt, the most forthright, emotionally sophisticated, and plain-old valuable book of its kind I've seen.”
June 4th, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Keep doing what you’re doing - love reading what you have to say. Oh - and come visit AZ. LOL! :-) Other than that, enjoy your success and know that you are making a difference…
June 4th, 2009 at 5:27 PM
I was very lucky to have stumbled upon your book at the library and found it to be very insightful. Although I am 50 years old and do not meet the 20 - 30 criteria, the experiences that are shared both in this blog and your book, have hit a nerve with me. I look forward to your continued blogs and the opportunity to learn from them and others who share some of the same concerns as me.
June 4th, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Thanks Michelle and Cecilia! It is so great to see the wide variety of people who have been responding to the Everything Changes book and blog. Apparently the book is an inspiration to 60 year old men with Parkinson’s, guys with prostate cancer, women with CF, and many others. It is cool that as crappy as the experience is of living with cancer as a young adult, it can be used to transcend illnesses and connect with other people who I might not have otherwise been in contact with.
June 4th, 2009 at 8:01 PM
I will definitely be reading your book. My cancerversary is June 6 - it will be one year. Not really going to “celebrate” it, I just want it to be as normal of a day as possible. Thanks for continuing to blog, you are very talented and I always enjoy reading them, on Planet Cancer and now that I’ve stumbled upon your website, I’ll be reading more of your stuff more often. D’oh, I already spend soo much time online!! j/k.
June 5th, 2009 at 7:38 AM
Yay, Kairol! You’re are doing such fantastic work. Thank you for giving your life’s energy to being such a wonderful advocate for young adults.
I believe in celebrating every milestone! My diagnosis was Labor Day weekend. Last treatment was on New Year’s. Birthday immediately following. It’s a great excuse for people to party with you!
June 5th, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Kairol, I so love this blog and visit everyday! Your writing is amazing and you cover such important topics that get people talking and sharing. Keep doing what you are doing! You are an inspiration to me as cancer survivor and a writer. My cancerversary was May 31st (8 years) the same day as my wedding anniversary which was 6 this year. I think sometimes I pay too much attention to anniversaries etc. But with my wedding I wanted to change a bad day in my memory to a happy one! You rock!! I look forward to reading more of your blog and your book is fabulous!! :)
June 5th, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Right back at you Cathy. Anyone who is dealing with Breast Cancer and dating issues, check out Cathy Bueti’s newly re-released book Breastless in the City! Her story is incredible.