Cancer friendships

Breast cancer was diagnosed at Dana Stewart in 2010, at the age of 32. She is the co-founder of a cancer survival organization called The Dragonfly Angel Society. She volunteers as a counselor and mentor to young adult survivors of cancer. She enjoys writing about the life of a cancer survivor and connecting survivors with the resources, inspirations and stories that have helped her continue to live her best life, available at www.dragonflyangelsociety.com. .com.

Last weekend, I attended a celebration for young breast cancer survivors in my area. The party was started by an organization that brought us all together to get our support. Breast cancer was diagnosed in the majority of us before our 40th birthday, one of the many similarities we all shared. Usually, we meet a newcomer to the group by sitting in a circle once a month to discuss our cancer diagnosis, our treatment decisions, and our fear of living with cancer. When we met, we felt safe in this circle talking to strangers that we would not dare to approach with the closest people we knew. If you step back, it's a bit strange. As humans, we tend not to talk about personal things to perfect strangers we meet, but in the world of cancer, this sounds natural.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32, I wanted to talk about it. However, I only wanted to talk about it with other people who had gone through it or who had gone through it. Since none of my friends had cancer, I thought I would have to accept becoming a stranger if I had to talk about my cancer experience in the open. Before cancer, I've never been a talker or outspoken. I was not shy, but I just let others talk, so, deep down, I would not have to talk to me, if you will. So, it surprised me when I wanted to talk about my cancer experience with strangers. For some reason, it made sense.

A few years later, I quickly became friends with many others I met at the beginning of my journey. We stay in touch and even though the majority of us are no longer in this circle, we always talk and get rid of our fears to control our thoughts about cancer. It's a relief that having this link with cancerous friends and knowing that I'm not the only one.

At the Cancer Survivors Party this weekend, I was not able to stop myself from taking a step back and looking at the room. There were newly diagnosed women who looked scared in the eyes that I know from my own experience. There were women without hair, showing off their bald heads with the pride of a person kneeling in the treatment of cancer, not being afraid to show who they were. I love this part and admire these women. And there were the long-time survivors with long hair and the warned look of the women's group "been there, do that".

Looking at these women, some of whom I had just met and whom I had known for years, I thought of that fact that most of us would never have met if we had not had cancer. We would never have shared our stories if we had not joined this circle of trust to hear and be heard. Would one of us really be a friend without cancer? Maybe, maybe not. I often ask myself.

Aside from cancer, I do not have much in common with these women, but I find that they are part of my close friends. I have said it many times, but I hate to give a credit for cancer for anything. This is not good for nothing, and causes so much pain and suffering, so it's ridiculous to say anything positive about it. However, cancer is what brought us all together to celebrate last weekend. This brought a lot of us together before this celebration and maybe that 's why we are all friends. I know this is one of the many reasons I stay a little sane as I continue my journey towards cancer survival. Cancer has occurred and I can not change it. However, by meeting these extraordinary survivors and celebrating our lives, our friendship and survival are certainly something we must be grateful for. Cancer friends have become my cornerstones and my favorite group when I'm scared and that this cancer can just take me to the best.