Melanin & Pink Ribbons

You have survived breast cancer and are now in the survivorship phase of your journey. Congratulations on fighting the good and difficult fight. From diagnosis to treatment, you probably have had a support system of friends and family to help you as well as a medical team guiding almost every move. Hopefully, you felt positive about your care and now have celebrated your healing. Ironically, it’s at this juncture that one can feel adrift, or so relieved to be cancer free you can experience a feeling of being unsettled.

As you move into survivorship you can experience a range of emotions from relief, happiness, thankfulness, and fearlessness.  It’s important to honor yourself and what you have been through. You now must adjust your view of your self-beauty if you have had hair loss. If you have had a lumpectomy or mastectomy, you must acknowledge and process the altered body you now live with. That can be a daunting task and it takes time. Be kind and patient with yourself. If you need tools to get over the hump of despair, seek a local support group.  In this age of computer access being only a cell phone away, you can also seek virtual help to move your emotions into the positive.

Survivorship is as individual as the hairs on your head but there are a few tips that we all can do that will only enhance us:

• Eat a healthy balanced diet
• Gradually reinstitute exercise back into your routine
• If you are feeling stressed try meditation for relief
• Limit your alcohol intake
• Stop smoking
• Find a support group if necessary
• Pay it forward by helping an active patient or raise funds for a cure
• Smile, it’s contagious and can turn your entire day around
• Lean into your faith
• Learn a new hobby

We have been given the gift of life and as we each move on this survivorship journey, let us make each day count! Don’t forget to share the message in our community that early detection saves lives! I can testify to this because it saved mine!

#melaninpinkribbons