Karen’s Breast Cancer Scars

"An Awakening", Two-time Cancer Survivor Inspiration Story

When I was diagnosed with Breast cancer, I reacted like many do; first thing came to mind was "a death sentence". However, I found out later it was truly "an awakening" for me, especially when I received bad news again later down the line. I was diagnosed with "colon cancer" a few years later, yet I am still here to talk about them both. I first began asking God, why, why me? What had I done so wrong in life to have this placed upon me? But suddenly, I knew that I was going to be OK.

I also realized that I was about to face a new beginning, new hope, do and see more with a whole new prospective on life. When I think of the "gift of life" that was given to me twice over, I know that I will develop and gain strength from all my experiences. I would never say having or going through cancer is a gift, surviving it, receiving a second and third chance at life, is the gift. Yet, through it all, I did not allow the disease to take away who I am, or what I stand for. Even with all the current complications I now must live with, I still feel truly Blessed. For a while, I was not happy with the way I looked after my surgery, nor the pain and complications I still must live with daily. But one day I decided to snap out of it. I thought about the individuals, especially children, who at times cannot leave the hospitals due to all the treatments, they are so young and have not quite lived yet, and others who no longer among us. I also realize that there will always be someone worse off than I am, so who am I to complain, "I still have my life".

One day during one of my many surgeries, I experienced something so real, so peaceful, that I knew I had to write it down. I turned my experience into a poem, and I called it "Peace". I took that poem, along with many others I had written during my Breast cancer period and placed it into book form and had it published, and I recently completed another one titled, “Cancer, Yet Cancer again, but I Will not Die, before I'm Dead”. I titled it that because, that is exactly how I felt when I heard the word cancer, I thought right away that my cancer diagnose was truly a death sentence, because you are not so sure you are going to make it. I have learned not to blink twice on life anymore and to live it to the fullest. Through my tragedies and all that I had to endure, it all became an awakening for me, in which I received and gain all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer.

I honestly believe when you survive a horrific tragedy or a horrible disease as cancer, it is for a reason, you have a purpose and I want to live and find out exactly what that is for me. Right now, all I have is to share my experience, my faith and hope with others. The experiences I have had to endure is what gave me insight to form words to write. With the words and phrases, I formed into statements, I wish to make a positive impact on someone who is ill or otherwise hurting, hoping it gives them the strength to embrace their life in a whole new way. The scars that you will carry with you, is telling an untold story of survival, so there’s nothing to be ashamed of. I am a true example that you can survive cancer, not once, but twice, if you get to it in time. I am not saying that it will be easy, and I am certainly not saying all will survive it, but just have faith, fight with all you have, then hold on. God Bless!

Karen Rice @KarenRi79930503
Two-time Cancer Survivor/Author