Finding Meaning, Strength and Joy
I’m 14 years out but sometimes it feels like yesterday,
when I heard those words, you have breast cancer.
Eek! What? Why me? I’m only in my 30s.
I was brave until I wasn’t, and then I cried.
And that’s OK because life is like a rainbow.
At my support group, a new member’s mother-in-law told me, I look good.
I replied with a smile, “I’m 14 years out, I guess I should.”
My best friend, Kathy, sits next to me, her cancer is back.
She’s doing maintenance chemo, she’s much stronger than me.
I don’t want any more treatment; I’ll juice and exercise and pray.
My faith is what gets me through.
Without His love and guidance, I’d be just another dying flower.
Instead, I’m a warrior who inspires others to be joyful and courageous.
My life is so much slower now. Maybe He slowed it down?
I was missing so much, too big for my britches, on the wrong path.
Chasing what wasn’t mine and running from what was.
Now, I am healthy in body, mind and spirit.
It isn’t always easy. I’m not always perfect,
but I know what’s going to help and what’s going to hurt.
So, I sail on as a survivor who is proud of how far she’s come.
I submitted this poem because it’s good to process what we’ve been through because it helps with our healing. I am a stage II breast cancer survivor.
This post was written and submitted by Julie Knose. The article reflects the views of Knose and not of CURE®. This is also not supposed to be intended as medical advice.
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