Cancer Support Community Article Series #5

Posted on August 30, 2022 By AmberNichole2 Comments

It’s here! Blog 5 of 5 for Cancer Support Community. August is a difficult month with many difficult anniversaries. In this part 5, I talk about the dark and the light and how each teach what bravery *really* is.

It was such an honor to write for CSC and share a large part of my cancer story. Being relentlessly authentic is what I want to be known for. I’m grateful CSC offered me a chance to be every bit that.

A Brave August: https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/blog/brave-august

Thank you for reading. 💛

2 Thoughts on “Cancer Support Community Article Series #5”

  1. Your Golden words:
    Hope isn’t about desperately seeking ease or wishing away adversity. Those things aren’t realistic, and they use up precious capacity and energy. Escape from cancer wasn’t an option for me. I didn’t get to wake up to the miracle of the sudden disappearance of my tumors; instead, I had to show up to all of my appointments and treatments and surgeries.
    And today I still have to show up to surviving. Therefore, hope for me is about making it all mean something. Pursuing purpose. Trusting that the unknown becomes known at some point. Knowing that the waiting in between has value, as well. Believing that hope can permeate hardship and grow in the midst of it because — even when things are wretchedly hard — nothing is wasted. And when I cling to that hope, I can keep showing up.
    Every day, I continue to live out the enormity of those 3 words, “I have cancer.” I’ve also learned to live out the enormity of 3 other words: Nothing is wasted

    Dear Amber,
    Very grateful for your authentic description of cancer survival.
    Today, 2nd September is a special day, my second birthday—I had my kidney surgery for Renal Cell Carcinoma on that day—Year 2006 ! , my age at that time-66 !
    My survivorship is less challenging, less eventful, less morbid and less intimidating, compared to yours.
    I have gone through the stages of investigation, preparation, surgery, after-care and follow-up. Fortunately, I didn’t suffer too much—no pain or complications- no further treatments of any type. Followed my Doctor’s advice to forget it and continue all my activities, all through these 16 years of survivorship—including the last 5 years of metastatic R.C.C.!
    I admire your expression- “NOTHING IS WASTED”.
    I prefer— “ SET GOALS—EXPEDITE “:
    It may be taking care of myself without giving too much trouble to others, working towards healthier life-style, developing interests and talents which I could not concentrate earlier– study, reading and Research, Learning from like-minded and gifted persons like you.
    I know I can’t plan long– ‘expedite’— doing service to the needy, advocating for improving quality of life of cancer patients. Trying to give even a small and few moments of relief and happiness to them, as quickly as possible !
    Thanks again for your articles- true-life, authentic, shocking and inspiring !
    Pl go ahead Amber, to publish the as a book- it will become a classic. Will be happy to contribute a few words from my experience to support, if you feel useful
    Ramana T
    Retired Prof., Cancer Survivor, lndia.

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