Heeeey! Welcome! I’m the Cancer Prancer!
What is that you ask?
Well, it’s a long story.
To spare you, I am a cancer patient. I have stage IV disease.
I had ignored my symptoms for a long time before I was diagnosed. I was young and I had my whole life in front of me. I was just stressed. I was working too much. I thought my symptoms would eventually go away. Of course, it was nothing serious.
But I was wrong.
By the time I was diagnosed, I was so sick I could barely feel scared.
Suddenly, without warning it was really bad. At one point, my existence was the path between my bed and the toilet – often with my head over the trash can. I was wheelchair bound and in diapers. At some point, I know, death tried knocking at my door.
Long story short, the treatment that my doctor gave me saved my life.
BUT, that didn’t mean that it has been easy. Having cancer has completely changed everything.
Before I had cancer, I was a high achieving, hard working, highly trained professional. I had dedicated myself to helping others but in the process, sacrificed so much – my well being, time with my family, and ultimately my health – my life.
This brings me to my new adopted name – The Cancer Prancer. In the face of almost losing it all – everything I had ever worked for was suddenly gone and replaced by a blank. That felt bad. Really bad.
So what’s a girl to do? They say that turning the corners of your lips up even if you aren’t naturally smiling can lift one’s mood. So I did that. Well, I tried my best and this unleashed my body. I was no longer held down or back by conventions or should.
Fake it til you make it?
Okay.
And so I PRANCED!