I write this blog post as a part of our latest project where we (The Public Interest Group on Cancer Research) aim to create digital resources and stories about cancer in the form of blogs, video recordings, and podcasts.
Today, I focus on the guest blogs.
These guest blogs are written by folks affected by cancer – either directly or indirectly. You can find them here, here, here, here, and here.
I read all of them multiple times.
And all of them have left prints in my memory.
Being a cancer scientist does not make me immune to cancer’s effects.
In this blog, I open a bit about the impact of reading the stories of cancer patient and family members.
Reading Jenna’s blog, I felt an extraordinary pride for this young person and their resilience and advocacy. It must have been hard to go through her mom’s diagnosis. I cannot imagine facing this experience at a young age. But she is resilient and very informed. Her powerful words make me so much hopeful that things will change in healthcare. Wishing Jenna, her partner, and her mom happy and healthy decades ahead.
With Deanna’s blog, I felt pain, but also tremendous hope for Deanna and all other folks who were young but got late stage cancers, and went through a lot during their journey. We recorded Deanna’s talk (as per her preference) and then turned the transcript into her blog. Remembering Deanna’s voice and the way she spoke during that recording makes me cry each time.
It does.
This is how impactful her words and story are.
Darrell’s two blogs pierced my heart. I got to remember the hopelessness the family members and caregivers in my family may have experienced during our cancer journeys. When someone dear to you is diagnosed with a disease like cancer, you want to do everything in your power to get them better. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. But sometimes all what matters is whether you have tried enough. RIP Darrell’s dad – know that you have a wonderful family who continues to advocate on behalf of the folks affected by cancer.
And with Namiko’s blog, I felt that pride again. Being proud of knowing this person and admiring their messages and words. Namiko describes her cancer journey and gives us hope with her story. Her transformation – from shocked new patient to someone recovered, stronger, and doing advocacy – must inspire many folks.
And personally, Namiko also represents folks like me, who are not from here but made here home and are non-native English speakers in the clinic. Do we get to express ourselves well as non-native English speakers? Do we have opportunities to communicate better in the clinic, for better health care, treatment, and recovery? She made me appreciate her representation and advocacy at a whole new level. Thank you Namiko. Thank you so much.
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In addition to these guest blog posts, we also chat with folks in our podcasts.
I hope you all will find something interesting or resonating while reading our blogs and listening to our podcasts.
Whatever happens, I want you to know that you are not alone.
If you are a member of the cancer community, join us and other advocates so that the next person, the next family, the next patient will have better chances and conditions.
With much love,
Sevtap Savas, March 29, 2024. St. John’s
