"Ignorance is not Bliss"

"The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd."
(Bertrand Arthur William Russell)

Cancer will not go away because you ignore it. It's common sense and yet many people are inclined to adopt the ostrich policy and stick their heads in the sand. It goes without saying that part of the reason why I am sitting here writing this is precisely because I always went for a check-up at the first sign of trouble...and was always proven right. There is no harm in being tested either and finding out what stage you are at. The agony is to "not know" for you cannot begin to face up to or deal with things effectively, unless you know what you are dealing with.

Further, it is important to understand what you are dealing with. At every stage of my illness, I have done my utmost to gather as much information as possible about breast cancer, for how can you make an informed choice if you haven't made the effort to find out what your options are? There are many treatments and opinions out there as to what is best, but what matters most is whether it is right for YOU. My attitude has always been, "if it's not broken, don't fix it". Therefore, I have only ever agreed to have the minimum treatment which would ensure that the current cancer was removed and stopped in its tracks. I kept both my breasts until my 10th operation, when I had to have a mastectomy of one of them, and have never accepted chemotherapy to which I am ferociously opposed.

"Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself"

"Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop."
(Usman Asif)

Ever wondered why you see so many dead rabbits on the road? Because they freeze in fear when the headlights of a car shine into their eyes. Fear is debilitating. It paralyses and weakens you, and what you need to face danger is strength; because he/she who is strong is free, and he/she who is free has power. Don't let imagination get the better of you, and concentrate on your particular situation as it is today. I can only describe myself as a very emotional, impulsive person who always acts on instinct, but paradoxically, I am also very practical. I have always considered each cancer with a cool head and then followed my intuition when it came to deciding what to do about it.

"An Opportunity to Learn"

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."
(Benjamin Franklin)

Every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. I am not lying when I say that having cancer has been in many ways a positive influence in my life. It made me realise what truly matters to me, and taught me to discard and disregard what does not. If something bothers you, see if you can mend it and then do so without delay. If not, let it go. Don't waste your time on stupid arguments, hatred, guilt and resentment. What's done is done; move on and learn from it. If you're unhappy with a situation, change it or leave it behind. All that stands between you and happiness is the power of your will. If you really are stuck in an undesirable situation, find a way to make the best of it. If you look hard enough, you will always see the light.