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Cancer Community on The Mighty January 17, 2020 from Mighty editor Erin Migdol There are so many aspects of cancer that remain hidden from view. Let's talk about them. The average person who hasn’t been diagnosed with cancer likely know very little about what it’s really like to experience it: the side effects, the havoc it can wreak on your mental health, and how it forever changes your relationship to your body. So for World Cancer Day on February 4, we want to raise awareness of the parts of cancer that aren’t often discussed on awareness days. To do this, we need your help! We’re creating a video featuring your answers to the following questions: What’s one aspect of cancer that doesn’t usually get talked about on awareness days, but should? What’s one thing you wish people would learn about cancer on World Cancer Day? To be included in the video, film yourself answering one or both of the questions. Use your smartphone, and keep your answers to 15-20 seconds each. Click here to submit your videos. Your responses will help open peoples’ eyes to the hidden battles you face every day. Today's Takeaway By sharing our stories, we can raise awareness of the often-invisible challenges of cancer. Stay Mighty, Erin ️ We want to hear from you. Do you relate to the message above? Let us know if you do here or by replying to this email. We love hearing from you. Let us know! Stories you may need What It Really Means to Be a Cancer Survivor Sandra Read now → We Need a Word to Describe How It Feels to Anticipate Death From Terminal Cancer Heather Stoker Read now → When I Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer in the Starbucks Drive-Thru Jenny Cokeley Read now → "It's not a matter of 'if'. It's a matter of 'when' I might get cancer." Watch: Previvors ATTN Read now → See more from the community. What we're talking about this week: Jodi Whoriskey @jodiwhoriskey Definitely Changes You Everyone knows that changes you. You could start to appreciate life more. You could start to worry about every little pain in your body. There are an array of feelings you can get once you’ve been diagnosed. For me, I can’t help but wonder about every new pain or feeling in my body. It’s not that I think that the has definitely returned. Instead I think, what if the has returned. I want to get it checked out so I can start fighting it now. My was found early thanks to an annual mammogram. I am now a huge proponent of routine testing. Even if it does mean that I have to have my first colonoscopy this year – not looking forward to that. I was diagnosed in 2018 and since then, I have been to see my primary doctor more times in over a year, than I have in probably 10 years combined. Part of it is due to my immune system being low and I was lucky enough to get the flu and bronchitis once I finished radiation. We all need to be advocates for our own body. Don’t hesitate on going to the doctor if you are feeling something new. Go, if only to give you piece of mind. If you are worried about not having the money, ask about payment plans. At one point during my treatment, I had 8 payment plans going on due to my , as well as routine family medical expenses. I am now down to 1 payment plan but with a new calendar year, that will be changing. But that’s ok. I will continue listening to my body and being my own advocate. And if I have a recurrence, I will be fighting that right away! definitely has changed me but it won’t stop me. Read More Connect With the Cancer Community