You Live, Are Brave And Triumph Over Breast Cancer

My intention with this letter is not to say all the things that people say to those who have breast cancer, which are ultimately meaningless and empty. It is my deepest desire to really help and support you. My wish is that every word I say will make you feel something deep inside you. I want to inspire you.

Breast cancer is not fair, but you have the strength to tackle the disease and overcome it.

Do you remember the day your body betrayed you? Yes, I know you think it’s a betrayal, because you do not know why it happened. It is impossible to understand why breast cancer appears, when the only thing it does is scare and destroy.

Your life changed overnight. Suddenly you found yourself in the middle of a war you could never have imagined, with weapons you do not know how to use. And you have no idea how long the war will continue…

It is difficult. It is a road that no one wants to go. Thousands of men and women are faced with it, while millions of others never need to. There are days when you ask yourself if it’s worth the fight – if you come out victorious – or if you should just let nature take its toll…

I want to tell you what you are

I do not want you to be alone in this struggle. Finding the will to move on is so difficult when you feel that all strength is gone. But everything you need is inside you. And the rest of us are here to remind you of that.

You are brave. Of course you are! To be brave is to get lost along the way and face your worst fears, but know that you can overcome it because it is a part of you. You’ve been hit hard from the inside, but you’re still here. You and your body can face each other and face this attack.

Strong, you are also strong. Often you find yourself believing the exact opposite. It feels like your body is fragile and weakened from the treatment, and that’s true. But you still have plenty of strength within you.

Never forget that every difficult moment you go through is another small victory. Give yourself recognition. You deserve it.

You are capable. For anything and everything. The challenges are there – they exist. It’s breast cancer. It’s big, and you have to accept it. But that does not define you.

You know it’s gonna be part of your story, but it’s not your whole story. You are so much more than this.

I want to tell you what you have

You know we’re here for you. You know our names and why we love you so much. We have so much to give you, and we do not ask for anything in return:

• Support. There are so many of us who want to hold your hand and follow you on this scary path. We can also, so please trust us.
• Protection. We want to embrace you when you need comfort. You are right in feeling that your world has become dark. You are allowed to cry as often as you want. But we are here, and we have the right to comfort you. Let us be your little confessional. You need an emotional refuge, a safe place, and we know how to build it.

• Tools. We are your sword and your shield. Let us be your armor. Drink us like a magic potion. We know we can not go through this for you. But we can at least go through it with you.

• In the army. There are thousands like you who are fighting breast cancer. We do not want you to be on the front lines. We want to surround you like an army that protects its commander.
• Memory. Breast cancer does not define what you are. No, you are a mother, friend, doctor, economist, sister, daughter… You have hobbies, interests, anecdotes. You have a past and, most importantly, you have a future. We want to remind you of everything you were and still are. Breast cancer does not define you – we do not allow it.

I want to tell you what breast cancer has not taken from you

Breast cancer has not deprived you of your femininity. Being a woman is not just about having a feminine body. It’s about more than that. Breast cancer affects both men and women – the disease has no gender.

Breast cancer has not deprived you of your beauty. Your body has changed – it fights an attack from the inside. It may never be the same again, but your beauty is still there. If anyone can not see it, it is their loss.

Breast cancer has not deprived you of your smile. There are still things that can make you smile. Use it to your advantage.

The little things that surround you can also surprise you. It is often the small details that give us a smile when we least expect it. Look at us when you need a reminder of how brave you are and how much you have. We help you remember that it is so much more than what you have lost.