Living With Intention After a Cancer Diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis alters the course of a person’s life, something that Valarie Traynham, a cancer thriver and patient advocate, is no stranger to following her cancer diagnoses of both breast cancer and multiple myeloma.

She says that from her diagnosis to now, her life has shifted from a from a focus on survival to a focus on living with more intention. This experience, for Traynham in particular, has shifted her focuses to now being more mindful of how exactly she spends her time, protecting her peace and saying no when needed. However, she cites one of her biggest changes as her sense of purpose that she has garnered through patient advocacy.

To delve further into this topic, CURE sat down for an interview with Traynham to discuss how her diagnosis has altered the way she lives everyday life. She ends the conversation by reinforcing that though she has changed both emotionally and physically, her core identity remains grounded in faith, community and her desire to help others.

Transcript:

What are some of the most significant ways your life has changed since treatment, and what parts of your identity or daily routine have remained the same?

Looking back on my journey with myeloma and breast cancer, life has shifted in significant ways. Initially, it was about mere survival — getting through the shock of not one, but two diagnoses, and enduring the treatments. Everything seemed to come at once, very fast. However, over time, I've noticed that it has become more about how I live.

I've learned to be more intentional with my time; with the things I say yes to and the things I say no to. My "no" muscle has become very strong, and I've also learned to protect my peace. I no longer take things for granted; again, it goes back to being intentional. But I think one of the biggest changes I've found on this cancer journey is that I've discovered my purpose. What started as figuring out how to navigate my own diagnosis has truly turned into a deeper commitment to helping others do the same. My advocacy work has allowed me to take everything I've experienced and turn it around to give back and help others.

At the same time, parts of my life haven't changed. My faith, for instance, remains my strong foundation; it's what keeps me going every day. I still find strength in my community, and I still enjoy showing up for others, being there to help them in their time of need. While this journey has changed me, it hasn't altered me to the core of who I really am. Instead, it has allowed me to be part of something bigger, stretched my faith, and enabled me to make connections that have totally changed my life.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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