28 days.
That was how long it was between being diagnosed with colon cancer, having surgery that removed almost a foot of my large intestine, and then being “cancer-free.”
28 days. How long it takes the moon to orbit the earth. 🌙
28 days. Is how long it takes to break a habit.
28 days. The days in February. 💗
28 days. An average menstrual cycle.
28 days. Not very many days, yet it was an eternity of time of the unknown.
Just 28 days.
My photo is 28 days after surgery. The scars are a reminder of a diagnosis that forever changed my life.
When you look at my picture, does this person look sick? Does it look like someone who has cancer? How do you look when you have cancer? Cancer doesn't care who you are. Your race. Your gender. Your religion. If you're wealthy, or even if you're young. It has no prejudice and can hit you with a vengeance.
Being diagnosed with cancer was like being hit with a sledgehammer right in the gut. Yet, I was never terrified. I'm not sure what I was? For someone who has always been afraid of death. I had a strange feeling come over me. I was no longer scared. It was a peaceful feeling, and I felt right with God, my life, and how I was ok with dying. Yet, I never believed that I was dying. Maybe someday I will understand what this phenomenon was?
My friend, who went through breast cancer and beat it, told me that this would be a blip in time. Something that seemed to consume every moment wouldn't seem like much looking back years from now. Interestingly, I feel that way now. It was so quick, just 28 days.
I can only imagine what it is like to go through continued days, weeks, months, or years of Hell, Hell on earth—struggling with the unknown cancer causes. Yet, I was only there for 28 days.
I will forever have 28 days ingrained in my mind.
28 days. A lot of emotions in only 28 days. Anger, determination, sadness, surprise, fear, betrayal, and confusion.
28 days. I found it interesting that telling friends and family made them panic, not sure it was even about me? The word cancer implies a terminal illness. Death freaks people out. I went from getting attention on the day of the diagnosis to no calls or texts because I had a clean bill of health given to me, all in 28 days.
28 days continues.
It has been 28 days since I had almost a foot of my large intestine removed. Time doesn't stop, and soon it will be another 28 days, and then another. Until 28 days becomes a reminder of what was.
Cancer will always be a part of me. Maybe not in the physical sense, but the mental side of what cancer does to a person is unexplainable to anyone who has never gone through it. Having cancer is not who I am or what I am. I may be “cancer-free” now. But, I will always have the word cancer in my mind.
When I heard others use the word before, it didn't have the sting that I feel now upon hearing it. It has forever changed my life. I won't dwell on it, and I won't let it have power. But, to say it did not affect my mind would be a lie. It didn't just ravage a part of my body; it took me to a place mentally I have never been before. I will always fight to stay strong and healthy because I am not done with my earthly body.
Thank God for those who went before me. Because of you, my Doctor was able to perform a surgery that once was not doable. Bless all of you who are going through this vicious disease, or to those who may someday. I pray that a cure will someday be found. And that no one will ever experience the pain or sadness that cancer has placed on its victims.
God Bless everyone who has been diagnosed with cancer! May you remain strong!
She is passionate about helping others understand their body.
The key to figuring out why you feel the way you feel is to take a more significant look at what is going on inside you & even around you, and then ask questions!
She is excited to help & support you on your journey of optimal health and wellness!
