I certainly was not used to people talking about my body all the time. "Are they taking your breast off?" several women asked. What? Who asks that question? If you do, you shouldn't.
PUBLISHED August 19, 2018
Doris Cardwell received a life-changing diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer in 2007. While undergoing treatment, she co-founded a mentor program for the cancer center treating her. She also created community events to educate, encourage and empower people regarding cancer. Doris was the first Survivorship Community Outreach Liaison for her local cancer center. She is an advocate, educator and encourager on issues facing cancer survivors. Doris is a wife, mother, empty nester, survivor of life and lover of all things coffee. An avid speaker and blogger, she is available at www.justdoris.com.
I remember clearly the day I found out I had breast cancer. After it started sinking in, I looked up and said, "God, this isn't funny, you know I hate pink!” And sure enough, soon there was pink everywhere. Pink ribbon socks, bags, bracelets, t-shirts, earrings, necklaces and oh those pink ribbon lapel pins.
At one point I tried to explain to my friend why I was hating the pink ribbons. She didn't understand, so I said to her, "Look, we are both survivors of childhood sexual abuse, right? Would you want to wear a ribbon for that?"
"Well, no" she replied.
I was trying hard not to let breast cancer become who I was. I wanted things to be normal, and pink everywhere was not normal for me. I truly did appreciate that people cared and wanted to bring me gifts, but I didn't know how to handle my feelings about that darn pink ribbon. It made me feel like I was in a club that I never wanted to be in. It also felt like it was suffocating me, changing who I was. I didn't like that. I was not used to being around doctors’ offices, having so many appointments or needing to rest.
At one point I tried to explain to my friend why I was hating the pink ribbons. She didn't understand, so I said to her, "Look, we are both survivors of childhood sexual abuse, right? Would you want to wear a ribbon for that?"
"Well, no" she replied.
I was trying hard not to let breast cancer become who I was. I wanted things to be normal, and pink everywhere was not normal for me. I truly did appreciate that people cared and wanted to bring me gifts, but I didn't know how to handle my feelings about that darn pink ribbon. It made me feel like I was in a club that I never wanted to be in. It also felt like it was suffocating me, changing who I was. I didn't like that. I was not used to being around doctors’ offices, having so many appointments or needing to rest.
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