World Cancer Day and the Inspirational Survivor in my Life

I’m angry.  I have no trouble accepting that imperfection is interesting, struggle shapes character, and life is never fair (a paradigm which I am blessed to be on the fortunate side of).  However, the disproportionately bad cards that some people are dealt can just infuriate me. 

Today is World Cancer Day, a day to spread awareness, share in our support, and to celebrate survivors.  This day/week has special meaning this year as tomorrow is a major surgery day for my dear friend Megan and Friday marks another milestone in her battle.  Megan is young, vibrant, warm, smart, and adventurous.  She also happens to be a cancer survivor.  For those of you who do not know, Megan was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 21 and was told it was metastatic soon after (read more in my February, 2013 post).  This Friday is her six year “cancerversary” meaning she is one strong lady and has defied the odds. 

Celebrating Megan's Birthday

Unfortunately, the odds are not always in Megan’s favor.  Soon after the New Year, a nasty biopsy confirmed fears that Megan had a dual diagnosis of melanoma.  That’s right folks, not just one cancer diagnosis before 30 but two (never mind that these two diseases are considered exceptionally rare in younger populations).  Now THAT is unfair; THAT just makes me mad.

As an athlete, I’ve become accustom to my actions directly effecting an outcome.  If I train hard and do as my coach tells me, I will have positive results.  It may not be as perfect or happen as quickly as I would like but the correlation is more than coincidence.  However, in this situation, there is absolutely nothing that I can effectively do.  Sure, I can offer my love and support but that’s hardly a gama-ray magic tumor-zapper. 

Anger (and fear) can do two things, however: it can paralyze us or it can inspire us.  While I believe I could easily fall into the former category, Megan is one strong lady that isn’t paralyzed by fear, and if she’s not then I really have no excuses.  In honor of my girl, her surgery tomorrow, and her milestone on Friday, I offer a few lessons from Megan.

Never a Dull Moment with this Girl!

1. Defy Statistics: Megan was given a 15% chance of seeing 5 years and we’re hitting 6, take that, doctors!  Seeing that miracle, it is suddenly less shocking that a sedentary girl, seventy pounds overweight, would turn her life around and become an elite athlete within three years (ie me) and the journey I have in my inaugural pro season doesn’t look so daunting.
2. Eliminate Excuses: One of the most beautiful and inspiring things about Megan is that she continues to live LIFE.  While many people (myself included) would curl up in bed never to come out with the pain and struggles she faces, Megan puts on dancing shoes, shakes her booty, and celebrates being young and alive.  When I look at this, I have trouble establishing an acceptable excuse to hit the snooze button in lieu of the pool when the alarm goes off hours before dawn. 
3. Ignore Naysayers:  On a similar vein, people sometimes give Megan crap for not behaving like a “typical” cancer survivor.  Who are they to judge?!?!  This absolutely infuriates me but that girl somehow is able to say, “I don’t have time for that drama” and let it roll off her back.  I, on the other hand, get mad when people give me crap for my stringent eating/training regimen or, on the flip side, for not having particular training toys/equipment.  I’m pretty sure if Megan can forget her much more ignorant haters, I can ignore mine. 
4. Smile and Keep Going: This is probably the most obvious lesson.  My friend deals with more heartache, pain, and stress in her young life than most of us will ever come close to in our lives.  Yet, she keeps a smile on her face and has an infectious laugh that is always close to her lips.  That said, no matter my race misery, there is no reason a smile should leave my face, no matter the misery, while gritting through a race or tough training session. 
5. It Isn't Fair: I have never heard the words, "It isn't fair" out of Megan's mouth.  Ever.  Given the comparison, I don't think I have the right, EVER, to say that about a bad race, a slow metabolism, or the inability to train in warm sunny weather.  

On this World Cancer Day, send your love and support to the survivors in your life, and give thanks for the body and health you are blessed with.  Love you Megan!