Many years ago, I was  watching a talk show and the guest was  recounting a rape experience she’d  lived through.   I remember the host asking her something to the  effect of how do you go  on?  The woman replied that the  rape  was an experience in her life, but not the experience of her life.  I held onto  the meaning of those  words as I went through my experience with  cancer because a moment in our lives, if we allow it to, can be so  defining.  The important thing is how we allow it to define us. For a long  time, I gave power to painful events in my life that were no longer my  reality.  It’s a process learning not to live like that, but learning not  to is attainable. I’m inspired by this woman because she  did not give that event power it did not deserve and that ultimately was her   message.  I wish I remembered her  name to give her the credit she  deserves, but I remember her courage and that  powerful message, and as it  has touched me, I hope it touches you. 
 
We all have different  journeys and challenges, but nonetheless we can find inspiration and courage  from each other.    Our lives are so much bigger than one  moment or circumstance of adversity. Not long ago, I learned about Nick Vujicic,  a very tenacious  young man that has not given power to his “circumstance”,  but rather has allowed  it to empower him by letting it serve as  inspiration to others to help them  empower themselves.   I came  across these two quotes recently, and he is the embodiment of  both:

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find  a way.  If you don’t, you’ll find  an excuse.” Jim Rohn

“Your  life  does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”  Jim Rohn

Watch the video and get to know Nick's story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50138905n

Today is National Cancer Survivors Day, but it is every day that compassion,  empathy, and support are needed, at diagnosis, during, and post-treatment.   It takes a community to get through this because the patients as well as the  caregivers need support.  Outside of family, friends, and medical  staff here is a great organization to seek  for support:

http://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/default.aspx

For some inspiration, read Clay Treska's story, a stage 4 CANSURVIVOR:

http://teamtreska.org/Home.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iXCf569Vhw

A  true hero, thank you Clay!

There are so many things I've had to find courage for in my life.  Cancer
has been the most recent one.  I have to say, thanks to so many
uplifting testimonies of selfless individuals, I've been able to face this "chin
up".  I've gone from paralyzing fear and doubt, to a hopeful, grab the bull
by the horns, CAN DO attitude.  The story that has most steered me in this  direction is that of Louise Hay, namely because I truly identified with her in  her book, You Can Heal Your Life.  I read it while I was recovering after all of my radiation treatment and last chemo cycle.  I've felt so much of what she has felt in life, and though I don't know her personally, she shares enough of herself that her story has imparted in me a feeling of comfort and hope, as if she's a personal friend. This site is aimed at tempering the shock of the diagnosis and experience of cancer by sharing stories of courage.  If you are not familiar with Louise Hay, I hope you enjoy and are inspired by her testimony.

If you are afraid, as I have been so many times, I am sending you the warmest of embraces.  Remember, this is a trying journey, but you can get through it.  I hope what I share helps you along the way, but also find things within yourself that you feel will help you along the way.  I focused on these stories but I also:

Did not ask for a prognosis, trusted my expert team of doctors to make the best  decision for my case (I believe God has the last say anyway)
Gave thanks every day, even for the tough treatment, because we live in a time of very advanced medicine
Set a goal of running (or at least walking) my first 5K. I'm  aiming for October 2013
Laughter being the best medicine, I watched funny movies when possible during treatment, my favorite being The Money Pit
I let my family do the research  whenever any symptoms came up and dealt with them as I went
along
I made sure to see my "wellness therapist" throughout the whole  process
I started yoga, acupuncture, and participating in a support group once physically able to, post-treatment

Stay the course, trust that God is on your side!

http://www.louisehay.com/about-louise/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0ZZ8xK6PE4