Avoid it.
If you even think about living a “healthy lifestyle” in order to “help avoid cancer” then without a doubt, you will be overwhelmed. I found myself using natural deodorants. I was the one swapping all of my home cleaning supplies to “all natural” ones to avoid cancer causing agents. (To later find a whole group of researchers saying that the claims were false, and they were taking my money.)
Avoid red dye.
Don’t charge your phone in your bedroom.
Avoid wireless headphones.
Eat all organic foods.
Don’t you dare touch cereal.
Seed oils? No.
The internet? Causing cancer.
Avoid wires in your bra.
Deli meat? No.
Spend all the money on avoiding cancer.
It is overwhelming. I tend to cry from time to time when I think about all I SHOULD be doing to protect my family. It brings paralyzing fear.
So, from someone that is a 37 year old mom, that does not wear wire in her bras, and lives a fairly healthy lifestyle WITH CANCER: I would like to share my PERSONAL LIST of things I am SO HAPPY I WAS DOING when I found out I had cancer.
This is my list of things that changed my life BEFORE I was diagnosed. This is my list that will cost ZERO dollars. This is my list that you can start RIGHT NOW when you finish reading. This is my list that has saved me.
Go to work.
Young friends that are entering their profession. Go to work. Save your days. They add up. Life is hard, it is OK. You do not need a day off every month. Go to work. Save your days.
I have been teaching for 14 years. I enjoy my job. I have had 2 babies and was home for 12 weeks with both of them. That is really the only time I take off. I go to work.
I say all of this because when I was told I had cancer, it was the most stressful news I have been told. On top of all of that stress, I had LOTS of appointments. I was seeing different doctors and having different procedures weekly in the early days. I was not stressed about having to take time off. I HAD THE DAYS. I still have the days. When I have chemo, I am not stressed about leaving because I know I have the time saved. I can’t imagine the stress of the diagnosis on top of the stress of having to take days that I did not have.
I know every situation is different. However, save your days. Go to work.
2. Exercise.
I was obsessed with exercise and being fit. In pervious seasons I was obsessed with lifting heavy weights and being able to move my body because I wanted to lift my babies. I want to run and play with my children. I want to have the energy to keep up. I want to be the teacher that runs races at recess. I want to be fit enough to thrive with my family. Now, my body is fighting hard and SO WELL. I am convinced I am doing so well with treatment because my body CAN. I thought I was exercising to prepare for parenting and aging. I was actually preparing to fight cancer while still being a wife, mama, and teacher. My body is literally killing it. Cancer. It is truly thriving.
3. Love Jesus.
In the last year I have changed. I am different. I love Jesus. I don’t start a day without my time in my chair with my Bible. I know scripture. I love my church. I am there when the doors are open. I have completed multiple Bible studies, and not just stated and dropped it. I am reading through the Bible with an actual plan that I am sticking to, and not quitting
I could easily be mad. I could sit here and list all of the bad. However, since becoming close to Jesus I know this: Life gets hard. Bad things will happen. Cancer is a doozy, but I got it. Since I have become so close to Jesus, I know He is there. I know He is writing the most beautiful story. It is insane to me how perfect the timing was with my journey. I know he is protecting me. I know that one day I am going to share this chapter with others so that they see Jesus. Get close to Jesus right now. You don’t know what it will change in your future.
That’s it. That is my list. You can go spend all of the money. You can do all of the research. You can try so hard to avoid it. However, these three things: I am so glad I did them. They matter the most. They saved me.
