October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are participating by publishing guest posts by breast cancer survivors.
We are thrilled to welcome author and speaker T. Suzanne Eller. Suzanne has survived a segmented masectomy, radiation, hysterectomy, and chemotherapy. She loves life and celebrates growing older. You can connect with Suzie at TSuzanneEller.com.
I was a 31-year-old mother of three small children when my doctor told me I had breast cancer. My response was: "I don't have time for cancer."
I had a night class on Monday. I was scheduled to bring snacks to soccer on Tuesday. I worked full time. I volunteered at my church. I was a soaker hose, pouring out in a hundred different directions.
Overnight, cancer became a teacher, showing me what mattered and what didn't. Material things, like financial success and a beautiful house, didn't mean as much anymore. What did matter was people -— those I wanted to hold, to laugh with, to love, to grow old with.
I needed get off my hamster wheel so that I could do that. At first, saying "no" disappointed people, but the more that I said "no" the more room I opened to say "yes" to the people that I loved.
Battling cancer also taught me the power of today. Before cancer, I used to say "one day," as in "one day I'll pursue my passions..."
Receiving a 10-40% chance of surviving after five years of treatment turned "one day" into "today!"
This September 18th, I celebrated 17 years of survival. How am I doing? I still evaluate everything every 9 months to a year. It's a habit now, and a healthy one–for me. Cancer is still teaching me, as I ask:
- Am I pursuing my passion?
- Am I rested?
- Do I enjoy the small things?
- Did I laugh today? If not, why not?
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