Dear Cancer
Each year we ask the AYA cancer community to submit letters to cancer to express their feelings about how cancer has changed their lives. People explore an array of emotions in these letters, including anger, sadness, gratitude, and hope.
Want to submit an article or write your own letter to cancer? Click Here.
Today I Say Thank You
I assume you get a lot of hate mail, I know I don’t often hear your praises, but today I’m here to thank you. I know it must feel like I haven’t noticed all you’ve done for me, like a parent who is seldom thanked for all they do, your existence in my life is so second nature I’ve not stopped long enough to acknowledge you much.
Read More...#SorryNotSorry
It’s been a year. Fuck you. (x a billion). You took over my life. I’m trapped. I can’t do anything I used to do. I hate feeling so tired. You make me walk like a 70-year-old woman. Everyone walks miles ahead of me.
Read More...Not Today Cancer
Dear Cancer, I hate you. I hate everything about you. You latched yourself onto my breast and created a fast-growing invasive tumor that decided to travel to other essential parts of my body. You do not care who I am. You do not care about my family, my heart, or my mind. You only care […]
Read More...Eyes Wide Open
I know we got off to a rocky start in our relationship, I guess that is something that could have been expected, considering our relationship was unlike most. I was busy trying to kill you, while you were busy trying to kill me… it’s a bit hard to get to know someone or something under those circumstances.
Read More...Living My Life
Although you may always be a part of my body you are no longer allowed to be a part of my life. I was diagnosed at a younger than usual age with you. I was only 30 and was told I had lung cancer.
Read More...Bring It On Cancer
I’m grateful you came to me. You made me realize who I am and have brought far more good into my life than bad. I recognize what you are doing to me is nasty, messed up, and depressing but you will never depress me, and you will never break me.
Read More...The Freedom to Live My Life
Dear Cancer, Since my diagnosis I have lost two AYAs to you. However, I have gained a new support system. And a new family that I didn’t want but one that I desperately needed. I have lost two years of my life worrying about you. But in those two years I have made amazing memories […]
Read More...The December Issue – Dear Cancer
We asked our Herd to write letter to cancer and boy did it come with a mixed bag of emotions. We have patients, survivors, mothers, grandfathers, brothers, sisters and friends all telling cancer how they feel. Check it out!
Read More...You Knocked Me Down But I Got Back Up
Dear Cancer, Ever since I was a small child and had to be brought back to life following a severe asthma attack, I have known that I possess the instincts of a fighter. With that said, I never imagined that, at the age of 32, I would dealing with you. You see, I worked for […]
Read More...How Dare You? Did You Not Know?
Dear Cancer, There are so many things I want to say to you. My mind is swirling right now as I try to put my thoughts to paper. Well, laptop, but I don’t think that’s a saying yet. I mean, should I keep it optimistic and politically correct by speaking only of the good? Dare […]
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