Two-time cancer survivor suggests a careful approach when researching your own cancer.
BY Barbara Tako
PUBLISHED January 13, 2019
Barbara Tako is a breast cancer survivor (2010), melanoma survivor (2014) and author of Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools–We'll Get You Through This. She is a cancer coping advocate, speaker and published writer for television, radio and other venues across the country. She lives, survives, and thrives in Minnesota with her husband, children and dog. See more at www.cancersurvivorshipcopingtools.com,or www.clutterclearingchoices.com.
As a fellow cancer survivor and cancer writer, I don't want to make you sad(er). I don't want to stir up (more) negative feelings. Above all, I don't want you to feel lonely(er) about your cancer diagnosis. Sometimes my writing stems from selfishness – ranting about me, me, me in my struggles against cancer fear and worry. I sometimes have myself a little cancer-related tirade. I tell myself that I am helping others, and sometimes maybe I am. Other times, I am standing on my writing platform or spouting off in my journal sounding my own little cancer horn.
Lately when I look at the media and politics, I question the helpfulness of my publicly shared opinions. I am spurred to try to be less inflammatory and more helpful. Is what I share truly accurate? Is the advice solid advice? Is what I shared a year or two or longer ago true for cancer survivors reading it today? Possibly no, no and no. Knowledge changes over time. People change over time. Most importantly, understanding and science move forward.
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