It is the day where all cancer organizations, cancer care facilities, patients, advocates, survivors and supporters unite in bringing a collective voice to the disease. #WorldCancerDay is trending on the social media forums and for today, there is a full on united force in addressing cancer with a unified hashtag across social media. Over the years, there has been great progress in cancer research and treatment. Some cancers have seen a marked improvement in survival outcomes. However, there is still work to do. We can find great hope in Big Data as we need the experts to share the information and move forward with getting their work out to the patient community.

Our goal is to keep updated on the latest progress in the areas of cancer research and clinical trials to keep our cancer community informed. Although they have many reasons to be skeptical, one of the main concerns within the communities that we serve – is having access to clinical trials. There is an overwhelming feeling of anxiety when one is diagnosed with cancer. The expenses, the fear of losing a job, fear of death and if one becomes a survivor, the fear of recurrence, and the ability to provide for the family or even themselves takes a tremendous toll.

Over the past few years, SCRC, Inc. has participated in Hill Day where we head to Capital Hill to meet with our leaders in Congress. We have discussed a range of topics from access to affordable and quality healthcare, to having a clearly written plan for the patient to explain their diagnosis, prognosis, treatments as well as the expected symptoms.

This year we will be bringing cancer awareness throughout the country. We are building teams of ambassadors as we prepare to have cancer chats to churches, cancer support groups, theaters, colleges and universities. There will be a documentary screening of The Day That Changed My Life cancer an uncertain journey followed by a Q&A. We want to be a part of making progress by being a source of awareness and empowerment.

If you are interested in becoming and ambassador or hosting a cancer screening, please contact info@thedaythatchangedmylife.org. We look forward to having you on board!

Candida’s Journey

I have no idea where this came from, it’s like it came from nowhere. I was doing well. I recently lost my mother suddenly. I moved from Atlanta back to NY to handle her affairs, that’s when I found out that I had cancer. Breast cancer. If that was not enough, I was unemployed, yes, no job. I am grieving and I am trying to get through the loss of my mother and now this. My brother and I are not as close as we should be, I have a daughter who has her own life to live and I do not want to burden her with my problems. I was literally alone, feeling lonely.

The treatment was grueling, I had no money and had to stay in New York at Hope Lodge during the treatments. My friends really came through and helped me. It was embarrassing to be in a state of asking others for help. My high school sisters were among some of my biggest supporters. They all pitched in to help, they visited with me while I was in treatment and they checked on me by text messages and phone calls.

This cancer is taking a toll on me. I am emotionally drained. I try to take my mind off my current state by making gifts for my friends. I cannot keep thinking about what my life was like before cancer, I used to be an educator. I worked very hard to have a successful life. I made it to become a principal. Now, I don’t have a job, I don’t have any money and I am desperate. I need to know how this will work out.

My daughter is in Atlanta, she is having a baby, I am sick and unemployed. How are we going to make it through. I have to concentrate on getting better but it is hard. I am losing my apartment in Atlanta. I have to get there to get my things at the same time I have to get my chemotherapy treatment.

My treatment ends, I am in remission, I moved back to Atlanta. My daughter had a baby girl. Everything seems to be working out. We are moving back to New York. I am going back into the workforce. We are happy to move closer to my family and friends. My hair is growing back, all is well.

Although my job is in New York, we decided on staying in New Jersey. I haven’t been feeling too well. At first we thought it might be the flu as it is September and the flu season begins around this time I guess, but after going to the hospital, it was the worst case possible. The cancer had returned. The cancer was aggressive and has spread to my brain. In a matter of weeks, things went from worse to fatal. The doctors said there was nothing more to help and that I didn’t have much time left. They said that I had three weeks left. I told my daughter that I wanted to have a Celebration of Life party with my family and friends. We planned it for the following weekend and it was beautiful. They decorated, brought lots of food, danced, laughed and prayed. It was one of the best nights I had in a long time. (Excerpt from The Day That Changed My Life Book).

Thanks for joining me!

While each journey is unique, we all share a common theme – cancer changes our lives forever — Dawn Aldrich