Why Speak Up For Childhood Cancer and Late Effects?
What most people don’t know is that just because one survives Childhood Cancer, it doesn't necessarily mean one’s battle is over, and one is now “cancer-free”- FALSE. From personal experience, I can tell you that Childhood Cancer is a lifelong diagnosis. First, we must survive the cancer treatment and then, live with a lifetime of late effects. These late effects could become barriers in our future lives, making it difficult to accomplish many life goals such as education, career, independent living, forming a family, and so much more.
After being "cancer-free" for the past few years, I now live with these late effects, which have become barriers in my life, and I have had to face tremendous amounts of challenges to get to where I am today, however, I keep moving forward, and keep thriving reminding myself that the biggest battle of all (childhood cancer) has been conquered. This is why I initiated BeholdBeGold, to shine a light on those who have been personally affected by these late effects of childhood cancer. Life can become difficult after survivorship however, I hope that by reading my blog, and sharing mine and others personal survivorship late effect journeys with you, you will be able to relate, and know that you are not alone. We are all in this together.
I also hope that you get to learn more about me (if you don’t personally know me already), learn more about my childhood cancer journey, learn more about OTHERS childhood cancer and late effect journeys, learn more about childhood cancer facts, research, and statistics, learn more about late effects of childhood cancer, how childhood cancer can affect you even if you don’t have childhood cancer, learn more about organizations and coalitions that support childhood cancer, and my favorite- learn more about how YOU can help and GO Gold for Childhood Cancer!
Thank you so much for being part of this community!
Behold and Be Gold!!