A national survey study of about 200,000 adults, published in Supportive Care in Cancer, found that people caring for someone with cancer had 89% higher odds of frequent mental distress than people who were not caregivers.
|Articles|November 10, 2019
What Advice Would You Give Your Pre-Cancer Self?
Author(s)Jessica Skarzynski
The saying goes that hindsight is 20/20, but often, individuals who have dealt with cancer express that they would have plenty to say if they could go back and talk to themselves before cancer entered the picture.
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The saying goes that hindsight is 20/20, but often, individuals who have dealt with cancer express that they would have plenty to say if they could go back and talk to themselves before cancer entered the picture. CURE asked its social media audience: What is one thing you wish you could tell your younger, pre-cancer self? Here are some of their responses:
- Don't beat yourself up for the life choices you made. No one gets out of dying, no matter what you do. - MBH
- Have a bigger emergency fund. - JA
- Don’t waste your life preparing for life. Live as you work. - VB
- Use sunscreen and stay away from Benzene. Benzene is not a hand cleaner. - TG
- Use your downtime from work to make memories with your family, because in the end that is what they will be left with. - CD
- Leave the job that I loved but gave me such stress. - PC
- I would live the same as I had. - PR
- Slow down, take more time to heal. - CTW
- Travel while you are young and have your health. — MKR
- You aren’t too young for cancer. Cancer won’t care that you’re only 31. Cancer won’t care that you’re a mom. Make the most of your minutes. Enjoy the seemingly mundane moments, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. - TR ‏
- Don’t let the opinions of others stop you from doing what makes you happy. - SD
- Maintain a healthy weight and stay active. - KKD
- Get a colonoscopy. — DK
- Don’t trust the doctor who said, “You don’t have cancer.” - GP
- Get genetic testing done early and additional genetic testing as technology warrants. And floss. — AAK
- Find better work life balance to destress more. Exercise, exercise. - MM
- Life will only get BETTER, not worse!!! - LP
- Enjoy life, follow your dreams because it can all be taken away in an instant! - DB
- Slow down and smell the roses. - RJA
- Do your best to live as stress-free as possible. I thought things were stressful until cancer came along. - TV
- Pursue an explanation of the symptoms quicker. - LL
- Get your Pap test. - PA
- Take out your mastectomy implant. It's going to give you lymphoma and eat your ribs. - CS
- Don't over-expose yourself to the sun. - MNP
- Take time allow yourself to heal. — STM
- Check your breasts regularly, to get to know what your "normal" is. - TM
- Love and embrace the whole you, unconditionally. Life is happening for you right now. - AU
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