Living Life
  • Blog: Living Life with Cervical Cancer
  • Living Life with Cancer
  • Erica's Story
  • Pictures
  • Media News

That Easy Cancer...

9/16/2016

4 Comments

 
Picture
"Oh, that is that easy cancer right?"  Honestly, tonight isn't the first time I have heard this question related to cervical cancer.  Somewhere along the way, for some people, it appears to have become acceptable to ask this question.  This question has specifically been directed at cervical cancer.  It is hurtful.  It perpetuates the idea of someone not having "enough cancer" or having "just surgery" as a treatment somehow equating to a lesser cancer.  All of these ideas are ludicrous.  Cervical cancer kills over 4,000 women in the US and over 270,000 worldwide annually.  I can assure you those families and friends do not think of cervical cancer as an easy cancer.

If you are reading this, you are probably more than semi familiar with my story.  You may know me personally, or not.  Reading this will probably evoke a strong emotion for you.  You are probably wondering what happened to prompt this frank discussion.  Well, tonight someone said those seven words to me.  They implied that my cancer, which is literally killing me, is a lesser cancer.  An easy cancer.  It infuriated me.  However, I continued on with my evening with my son and family because that is what was going to make me happy.  

Now is the time for me to hash out what happened.  I knew I had to blog about this experience.

Firstly, I was appalled.  Literally appalled that anyone would think this, let alone say it out loud to me.  I will be honest with you.  I don't "look sick" today.  I probably look a little rebellious with my short hair cut with teal and white (blonde) highlights. If you look at me today I might not look like cancer.  I assure you.  This is a face of cancer.  As a matter of fact give it a few days, when I shave my head.  Give it a few weeks, when the Carbo/Taxol starts to take a toll on my body and I can look like what you think a cancer patient should look like.  I bet then that you won't be thinking I have the easy cancer.

I also reached out to friends.  I simply told them what was stated.  They were furious for me.  They wanted to know how I responded, what I did, and how I corrected the situation.  I wouldn't have wanted to be the person making that statement had my friends been around, based on their reactions to hearing me say it.

Picture
This statement forced me to say out loud something that I really haven't addressed vocally.  This "easy cancer" is a cancer that is actively killing me.  I will die of this cancer.  It won't be today.  It won't be tomorrow.  Hell, hopefully it won't be next year.  However, we are not actively curing the cancer.  We are trying to extend my life.  This cancer will kill me.  So, I spoke those words. I will die of this and there is nothing easy about that. 

Many women with cervical cancer hear the words "no evidence of disease" or "cancer free", even those women face lifelong impacts related to treatment.  Loss of fertility is a very, very common side effect.  Neuropathy, bowel issues, early onset menopause, fistulas, sewn shut vaginas, these are all potential side effects of this "easy cancer."  I am sure you see where I am going with this.  Even those women able to come out cancer free have lasting lifelong conditions related to cervical cancer. It is not easy.

Tonight isn't going to stop me from sharing my story.  It will probably have the opposite impact.  It will push me to share my story more.  I don't think any cancer is the "easy cancer" and I want people to hear my story.  I hadn't felt like blogging in about a week and tonight pushed me to share this post.  What can you share about your story?

4 Comments
Marie klink
9/17/2016 07:52:34 am

History - non-hodgkins lymphoma 2003 and Breast Cancer 2014

I was told I was lucky to have an easy cancer during my breast Cancer treatment. I was finishing up 33 days of radiation. I was burnt and pieces of my skin were falling off or sticking to my clothes. I could no longer tough out the pain and had to admit that I needed pain meds.

I wanted to take off my shirt and scream - does this scar across my chest look easy? Does this burn and pieces of me falling off look easy? And don't get me started about how easy chemotherapy and all those side effects were.

Instead, I went to my phone and got pictures and showed them. Those photos are cringe- worthy and the person looked away. I wanted them to see the real deal, not a cancer patient with a smile on her face trying to have a normal day.

You are a warrior! Keep fighting your fight and keep living your life.

Reply
Tessa ezell
9/17/2016 08:04:39 am

Erica, im going to be honest with you because you are always honest with all of us. I hope I don't offend anyone but when I was dianosed with stage 3b cervical cancer and had a 9cm tumor with mets to my lymph nodes I never said it out loud but that was my first thought, well atleast this isn't a real bad cancer!!!!! I never said it to anyone but I thought it of myself. Imiange my horror when I was put directly into radiation and chemo and now I've had uptake in my colon im awaiting biopsy and scope to find out if it's spread or not. I've tried five times to do a colonoscopy and becuz of a 10cm mass of scar tissue they can't get a scope inside of me. There has not been one thing "easy" about this cancer!!! I would never of said that to anyone even if I didn't have it so that person was way out of line but i understand their way of thinking. Thank you for bringing so my awareness to this horrific type of cancer. Still praying for you!!!!

Reply
Crystal
9/25/2016 10:03:53 pm

Thank you for sharing your story. I am currently 2 years ned after treatment for 1b2 cervical cancer. I too felt at the beginning of treatment that maybe my cancer wasn't cancerish enough. How ridiculous! It was as if the fact that my chemo-radiation therapy was "less" than other's experiences, after all I didn't lose my hair. How short sighted of me. Little did I know how my life would change with early menopause, infertility, bowel issues and bladder issues at age 36. cancer is cancer and it doesn't deserve a capital. I no longer try to "justify" my survivorship. I am surviving. Thank you for inspiring me to speak out. ❤️

Reply
Jeane
9/30/2017 06:19:55 pm

I was stage 4a with an 8cm tumor that had mets to my bladder, rectum, lymph nodes, ... I was told could not do surgery from the first surgeon I met with. . It was so far advanced and in such an awkward location, he said he would not attempt to do surgery. I was heart broken. Referred to oncologist @St Francis cancer Ctr who was very straight forward and told me he was not sure he could help me but he would not give up on me. A month went by and insurance Finally approved tomo radiation and chemo. He also wanted me to see another Oncologost at IU hospital. I was again told no surgery as I would not make it thru the surgery and it would be too dangerous. The news was devastating. I never gave up!! I somehow knew in my heart I had to accept what was and turn it over to God. Together both my oncologists saved my life. Brachytherapy was hell but I told myself my doctors were angels sent to me from above. That was 4 yrs ago. I just had my CT 2 wks ago and it was ned and my pap was clean. I have to say I so many side effects from the treatments.... bowels issues, urunary issues, neoropahy in my legs, painful hips and bone pain, stents in kidney, and I have never regained my stamina. This disease did not kill me, and I have to admit sometimes I feel angry about the side effects and pooping my pants, or being tied to the house, but I am a much stronger woman than I ever realized and it was Erica's posts, her words of encouragement to everyone that kept me going. God bless you Erica. Your energy and devotion to all of us kept this me moving forward and never looking back! Hugs to,you!! 💕

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Erica is a 32 year old cervical cancer advocate who is out living cancer for the third time. When she isn’t advocating for cervical cancer and HPV awareness as a Cervivor Ambassador, she previously oversaw the STEM program at the school where she was an educator; she now helps coordinate the robotics program. Erica enjoys spending time with her husband and son in their Indianapolis neighborhood, as well as pursuing new and adventurous hobbies. She can most recently be found fawning over kayaks and daydreaming of returning to whitewater kayaking with First Descents, an organization for young adults impacted by cancer. 

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    Cervical Cancer
    Chemo
    Hospital
    Nephrostomy
    Photography
    Surgery

    RSS Feed

Powered by
✕