Cancer Survivorship Sparks Purpose, New Goals and Giving Back

Have you ever seen the movie "The Bucket List"? I recall seeing it and being inspired to explore my own life goals and spirituality before being diagnosed with cancer. Now, being in recovery from breast cancer while my husband is a survivor of prostate cancer, I am even more inspired to live out my bucket list. My list includes making memories with family but also traveling and trying to figure out how I might want to be remembered.

I recall at the time of diagnosis just wanting to live long enough to see my kids out of high school and, if all went well, into college. At a minimum, if that was all I had left, it was to see my children in the best place possible. Now 11 years into recovery, I am retiring from my full-time job at age 57 and able to create an updated bucket list. I want to travel, I want to love more fully, I want to have a greenhouse of my very own, and I want to support family traditions, create new memories, and tell stories. I also want to give back to the cancer community as one way of being remembered when I am someday gone.

My motto when diagnosed with breast cancer and becoming an advocate for others on their journey became, “May your smile be brighter than any obstacle you face.” I wrote this quote when signing copies of "Experts in Pink," a book for which I wrote a chapter, during a signing in 2018. It is a way to remember the power of our goals and resiliency and to enjoy every day we have.

Whether we have cancer or not, we don’t know how much time we each get in life. I was reminded when living with cancer that it is important not to take our time on earth for granted. I had goals in life, but I began to really think about my dreams once my health began to turn a corner and I realized I was going to have my wish to see my children graduate high school and more.

A scare occurred when my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer just after I got past breast cancer. Now, we are both survivors and gratefully retiring in our 50s from working full time. It is now time to enjoy more walks, working out, resuming hobbies or taking up new ones, traveling whenever we want since we can approve our own leave schedule, having more social gatherings with friends, cooking more elaborate holiday meals for our family, and exploring ways to continue to grow and learn.

I will maintain my part-time business teaching yoga and offering mental health counseling because I would feel bored without it, but I will have the freedom of telehealth and improved flexibility to be in any location I please when setting my work hours. As for ways to be remembered once I am gone, I haven’t fully figured that out just yet, but I suspect it will involve finding ways to give back to the community.

Before and during COVID-19, I ran free adaptive oncology yoga classes for patients with cancer. I suspect I will go back to offering oncology yoga where chairs can be used to help modify poses. I have been offered a national opportunity to teach other yoga teachers. I may work on a book or free training helping others learn to teach oncology yoga where inexpensive props, such as common chairs, can be used. This would offer classes without the need for an excessive amount of yoga blocks or other equipment that can get expensive for survivors and agencies. Some "fancy" oncology programs promote these expensive items, but they are not necessary or cost-effective.

My life has been richer since cancer. They say cancer can be a gift. It does come with many challenges, but I hope we can all remember to enjoy every day we have to live. Time is precious. May you explore your own bucket list and allow your smile to be brighter than any obstacle you face along the way.

This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

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