r/cancer • u/Rachel21321 • 3d ago
Patient Annoyed at calling it a fight?
Anyone else thankful but also get annoyed when people call you a fighter or this cancer a fight or that you are so brave? I don’t think I am any of those things. I am doing what I need to do to get better. It doesn’t feel like anything I’m really doing is “fighting” or “brave” or even changing the situation aside from making decisions. It feels like these steps I take either work or they don’t but not through much conscious fault of my own. To me it just feels like this shitty thing to hopefully get through.
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u/DirectGiraffe8720 2d ago
It's not annoying at all from my perspective.
My first diagnosis of colon cancer in 1995 I was originally told I was too young for colon cancer ( I was 28) I wasn't taking no for an answer and thank goodness I didn't.
My second diagnosis I was told there was nothing that could be done for me, I was given 3-5 years to live and sent home to die. I had a 2 year old grandson and a 1 year old granddaughter l. I was scared I would never hear my granddaughter say my name. They are 10 & 9 now, plus I have a 4 year old grandson.
Why?
Because I fought.
I asked for a second surgical opinion, and while I was still told that the tumor was inoperable, at least this time I was referred to Medical oncology. I've had over 115 chemo & immunotherapy treatments. I was originally told that I couldn't have radiation because I had all I was allowed in 1995, but I fought, and as it turns out that was incorrect information, 8 years after my second diagnosis I started radiation this week.
Why?
Because I fought.
I just got back from a 5k walk after beginning radiation and chemo pills this week.
Why?
Because I fought.
And you have to be brave to fight. Too many people rely on one doctors take. They are afraid to fight.
You also have to be brave to take some of these treatments. I know some days I wanted to quit. But I kept with it.
I may still have cancer, but it doesn't have me.