Episode 4: Cancer Is A Journey, Not A Battle with Guest Razak

-IMPACT VALLEY-

"When people know that I am a cancer survivor or cancer fighter, they usually pity me. To be honest, we, as a cancer fighter and survivor, I feel uncomfortable when they are pitying me. I am trying to make myself comfortable with this disease. I am trying to accept cancer as part of my life. I feel like they're taking my power away when they are pitying me. They are disempowering me."

For someone who had cancer, they don't want your pity. They don't want people to feel sorry for them. They want you to understand, not to seek pity. When a cancer patient or cancer survivor shared their cancer journey with you, I think they don’t want you to feel sad or sorry for them. No, never. Instead, they want you to talk in the same language. To be honest, as an outsider, it's difficult to be in cancer patients' or survivors' shoes. It’s not easy to be aware and sensitive to their feelings in order to help or comfort them. But, you can listen to them, deeply listen to their cancer journey. I know there is no right word that you can say to someone who has cancer. Your sincerity matters even when there are no words you can utter. We can control our judgment and perspective towards cancer patients and cancer survivors, that way you could have a deeper understanding of their fighting journey.

As Razak had told us, it's vital to be aware of your emotional and physical health. When you feel there is something wrong or you are feeling uncomfortable with your mental or physical health, please seek professional help and get yourself a body check-up. It's not healthy to bottle up and not willing to seek professional help from doctors or mental health counselors.

Compassionately listening to others inevitably is a form of healing.

Cancer could be someone’s end of life or the beginning of a new life. It could be a warning, trial, and a lesson not only to us, who had cancer but for everyone. We all die one day, but don’t let cancer steal your joy and kill you.