Advice From a Cancer Survivor: Be Thankful

November brings a time of giving thanks, spending time with family, football games, parades, turkey and the traditional pumpkin pie. 

I especially remember one November after many months and numerous job applications and interviews I stopped to see my parents. I told my father,“I’ve come to tell you most excellent news. I have landed a job with Caterpillar Inc.” The decision to leave the grocery business after 12 years to work for a Fortune 50 company was not as foolhardy as my mother feared. I was so happy and grateful that my sacrifices to go to school while working full time finally allowed me to feel both mentally and emotionally safe.

Thinking back to all the tests and struggles I went through after my cancer surgery, I was elated upon receiving my undergraduate diploma and now starting a career with a future.

A doctor who I had met in my hospital bed after my cancer said something profound: “Find within yourself the strength to reinvent yourself, only that way will you shed light on your past and recover.”

He meant dare to face my flaws. Most times we can be stubborn to open our eyes to the daily mistakes that we continue to make. I am thankful even for my mistakes so that I can learn and grow from them. Do you make ambitious statements without ever acting on them? I am thankful to have people surround me that hold me accountable.

Well, what I have learned from cancer is priorities may differ before and after illness. What I was thankful for immediately after cancer came down to “the basics.”

I was alive, had family, friends, and the ability to competitively run. This didn’t  mean I had no goals for work or school. But their priority fell further down the priority list. Is survival not enough for itself? I am thankful now for my continued healthy state.

If you don’t have a sense for what you have achieved, then you will never be successful. I appreciated what I already had but wanted a bit more over time. I faced challenges that helped me maintain a positive outlook. Survival encourages one to appreciate what they have and recognize what others do not. 

Through the years I have found inspiring advice that shifted my perspective of community and success. On one hand, after my cancer I was given an undeniable powerhouse in my life. But not everything was rosy, I struggled with dating and relationships. There were silent things that were going on inside. My mind was always thinking of my health and if cancer would rear its ugly head once again.

Just last weekend, I was telling a friend that I’ve had some issues with my health thisyear. I’m not proud of this, but every time I think back to that Fall day when I discovered the lump I can’t shake the feeling that I could be spending my time in ways that is more productive. I am thankful that I am alive and have great family and friends. I am proud to have life experiences that at the time was beyond my comprehension.

Gratitude is the best way to define how I feel now when looking back. There is a positive correlation between being thankful and a person’s well-being. I feel much better about my own self if I give, donate or live by being thankful for everything that comes my way. After surviving testicular cancer, I feel like I was given a second chance at life. Although given challenges, I have learned to be resilient and face adversity head-on.

Those experiences brought tremendous feelings of gratitude for not just being alive, but feeling healthy and eventually energetic. On days when I feel uninspired or dissatisfied with life, the key to unlocking my brain is to consume a good book. Reading can be a great motivation and great mental break from the stress of everyday life. Immerse yourself in a good book. It is an inexpensive mental break from everyday stress and drama. I believe that by reading something every day, you transport yourself away from the doldrums of life. We all at times lose the glory of the form, but you are not alone.

Every day is a new chapter. My story is of my memories and future dreams.  Never forget it is perfectly OK to be thankful for everything thrown into your life. Even an illness. It is your own journey, and you are not alone. My thoughts on this Thanksgiving season are with all survivors, current patients and their caregivers. Keep the faith and lean on friends and families to get you through. Be grateful to those who encourage you. Most importantly tell them how grateful you are to have them in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers.

This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

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