Since my cancer diagnosis at the age of 32, I put a little target on turning 40. It was more like a hope. I hoped I’d get the chance to celebrate being 40.
BY Dana Stewart
PUBLISHED March 20, 2018
Dana Stewart was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at the age of 32. She is the co-founder of a cancer survivorship organization called The Dragonfly Angel Society. She volunteers as an advocate and mentor, focusing on young adults surviving cancer. She enjoys writing about life as a cancer survivor, as well as connecting survivors to the resources, inspirations and stories that have helped her continue to live her best life, available at www.dragonflyangelsociety.com
I’ve been looking forward to that number for a long time and was a bit scared of it, too. I really wasn’t sure I’d make it. At the time of my cancer diagnosis, a year seemed unlikely, let alone another eight. So, I figured I’d make turning 40 my goal and see what happens from there. As it got closer with each passing birthday, it seemed more likely that it would happen, and I got more excited. Friends around me started hitting 40, and many had a different take on it. They complained, seemed sad and depressed, and all out just not interested in the big 4-0. I couldn’t understand why. When I’d ask, they would say it was depressing to be “over-the-hill” and see themselves so much older. Some would go on and on about how they were dreading it and didn’t want to celebrate. I’m not going to lie – when I would hear this, it was infuriating. I know that many people don’t understand life as cancer survivors nor do I expect them to. However, hearing people complain about hitting a milestone birthday has different meaning to me these days. Just knowing that many people I have known over the years never got the chance to get to 40 is hard to think about. Some never got the chance to see what 30 looked like. After hearing the complaints of turning 40, I knew exactly what I needed to do – CELEBRATE!!
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