Cancer can be quite the isolating experience, regardless of how many physical bodies are around you at all times. It’s a sort of experience that isn’t relatable even to people watching you — they don’t fully understand the emotions that you are facing at all hours of the day and night. It is my mission, with my videos and social media, to raise a voice and bring light to this taboo topic.
Cancer doesn’t need to be taboo and I think the more that other cancer patients are able to relate to each other, the less isolating the experience can be. In addition, I think it’s so important for non-cancer patients to be able to see into our lives through the lens we provide them. For me, content creation (on YouTube, Instagram, and this column) allows me to offer a lens to shed light on our experience as we face this life-threatening disease — before and after treatment.
Shortly after finishing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, I created a video in collaboration with anonymous lymphoma patients I met on social media. I asked them to provide me with one short sentence regarding their experience with cancer. The intention of this video was to shed light on little things most people would never think of, as well as to create a community — to know we are all experiencing these aches and remind each other of outlooks that will get us through this.
Thank you to all the brave souls who opened their hearts to me to create this video. Always remember that even if you don’t vocally communicate that you are experiencing or feeling something, no one fights alone. We stand in solidarity with each other through these isolating times before and after cancer.
Is there a statement in my video that deeply resonates with you? If you feel inclined and want to share a sentence with this community, please do so in the comments!
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Note: Lymphoma News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Lymphoma News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to lymphoma.
