Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.
Issue link: http://cancerfightersthrive.epubxp.com/i/103434
INSPIRATION do great By Nicole Haran I never knew anyone with cancer un- with friends, I turned back to see one of phrase as much as I did throughout the til last year, when three of us were my pals crying into her hands as others year. diagnosed: my aunt, my father-in- consoled her. Someone once told me that None of it was easy. Buckets of tears law, and me. My aunt was the first to get having cancer is like being at your own were shed, but I have no doubt that ev- the news. Many months went by and I did funeral. At that moment that is exactly erything was made better by the positivity not call, write, or visit. how I felt. around me. My father-in-law (her brother) was di- Others had no difficulty "overlooking" "You will do great" is one of those agnosed soon thereafter. Feeling scared the diagnosis, keeping the status quo. In phrases we say to our kids thousands of and at a loss for words, I kept my distance, fact, they became chronically upbeat. My times in a lifetime. We say it because it rarely called, and, despite his positive at- brother, for instance, hadn't seemed so means I believe in you. We say it because titude, felt somber around him. We never happy and optimistic to me in years. My it means All you can do is your best. We told our children about their aunt or cancer diagnosis brought out the best in say it because we know that to succeed in grandfather. him. I attached myself to my husband's getting through tough spots we must to Three months later I was diagnosed confidence. When I spoke to people who some degree create our own reality. with stage III breast cancer. After my di- behaved as though I would someday be agnosis I learned that my father's mother well, I felt stronger, happier, and healthier. and sister both died of breast cancer be- My surgeon and oncologist were so fore I was born. I was never told. positive that my husband and I named Determined to keep things as normal as them the "sunshine sisters." Friends who possible for our kids, I instructed friends made me laugh so hard it hurt while I and family to "act regular, even positive" healed from my bilateral mastectomy at all times around me and the children. were rock stars in my eyes. I knew how There were several people in my life who much I would need them in the days to were so fearful and sad about my diag- come, and I was right: laughing helped nosis that it soon was apparent that they To learn how Nicole Haran is using her Do great mantra to help others, visit dogreatcampaign.com. The campaign urges everyone who has been touched by cancer to see the video on the website, share it with others, and write their own Do great message. with everything. could not "play along" by acting positive. The fear of chemo and radiation di- I could see it in their eyes and hear it in minished when a wonderful family friend their voices; my diagnosis prevented them told me I would "do great" through it all. from being supportive to me. Their heavi- She is a nurse at a cancer center, and she ness scared me half to death. I began to told me I was going to "do great." I de- avoid them, the look on their faces, and cided to believe her. Do great became my the stories they told me. Once when I was mantra, and all the people who could leaving a restaurant after a nice lunch "play positive" in my life clung to that 46 cancer fighters thrive | spring 2013 cfthrive.com