I’m a Survivor
Karen Rice
Without questioning.
That is how I got through my cancer diagnosis, not once, but twice.
Without questioning.
When enduring a serious illness, you may learn true faith, along with the meaning of beauty and how you really feel about yourself. Through many life trials, I gained strength I never knew
I had, and confidence to love myself again.
After enduring many difficulties, things were going well. Then: a head-on collision with not only breast cancer, but also colon cancer. I thought I’d seen rough years before, but cancer was the rest of the iceberg.
There’s nothing like it. You wonder what you had done to have this placed upon you. You wonder, why me. I did, too. Yet through it, I found an awakening, and the strength and encouragement to endure.
Through the chemo, radiation, and pain, I still felt pretty good about me. I found myself looking in the mirror even more, expecting to see drastic changes. Instead, as I saw new imperfections on my body, over time it got better. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I embraced it, thankful
to still be among the living.
The scars on my body are just that. They are symbols for others’ inspiration and hope. I am thankful, because if I had not struggled, I wouldn’t have found my true strengths. I am an example that you can survive cancer, not once, but twice, providing you get to it in time. I’m not saying it will be easy, nor that all will survive. I am saying: have faith, fight with all you have, then hold on.
Whether dealing with illness or simply negative feelings about our lives, selves, or bodies, we need to be our own cheering section. Through my experiences, I came to realize that even through dark times, I still have a life to live, and I’m going to live it to the fullest.
When I think of those no longer among us due to this horrific disease, I am grateful and no longer take my life for granted. I was given the “gift of life” twice over, and I don’t have a moment to waste.
I would never say having cancer is a gift; surviving it and receiving more time with your family is the gift.
Your true self and beauty are within, and when you feel beautiful on the inside, it shows clearly on the outside. Just because I had cancer does not mean cancer had me. We should never allow anything, any circumstance, to steal our joy.
When I look back on how far I’ve come, I have to say, I thought my cancer diagnoses were a death sentence. No one knows if they’ll make it. Cancer taught me to live my best life, with eyes wide open. I realized I would face new beginnings, new hope, and do and see life with a new perspective. I am 67 now, cherishing each day. I hope my story helps you do that, too.
Karen Rice is a 2x Cancer Survivor and author of Cancer, Yet Cancer Again, but I will not Die, before I’m Dead.