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I Had Cancer Guidelines

We're all here for similar reasons - we've been touched by cancer in some way. It’s up to all of us to show each other that no one is alone. Your IHadCancer profile is your own place to call home during this crazy thing called cancer, we just ask that you keep these simple guidelines in mind when participating.

1. Always Be Nice. This is a place for connections and conversations – we encourage you all to talk openly but please remain considerate in all of your engagement. Don’t post obscene, hateful or objectionable content. Abuse and disrespect will not be tolerated in the IHC community and is subject to deletion and user removal at our discretion.

2. Be a Good Friend. The IHC community is a family. Please remember to be a good friend to the connections you make on IHC. Ask questions that you wish someone would ask you; if you can’t find the right words to say, send a hug, it can speak louder than words. A simple gesture goes a long way.

3. Don't Spam. This includes sending unsolicited messages of any nature, posting links to unrelated content, promoting a survey, fundraiser or product where it shouldn’t be promoted. If you aren’t sure if something is appropriate to post, e-mail us and we’ll let you know.

4. Think Before You Post. Everything you post on IHadCancer is secure, but it is up to you to monitor how much or how little information you are sharing about yourself and your experience. Please don’t share personal or identifiable information like your mailing address or your full name and don’t share other member’s information.

5. If You See Something, Say Something. We work hard to make sure these guidelines are followed closely but if you see something that doesn’t’ feel right to you, please let us know. We review every report we receive and will take anything you say to heart. We promise.

6. Be Open. Welcome newcomers and help guide them through this journey based on your own experience. Whether you are a survivor, fighter, caregiver or supporter, you have valuable information that can very well help someone else who is just beginning the cancer journey. Be open to sharing experiences and give someone else the gift of your time.

Thanks for being a part of our community. It’s up to all of us to ensure that IHadCancer remains a place for us all to call home when dealing with the ups and downs of a cancer diagnosis.

greyash's picture
greyash Connect

Survivor: Thyroid Cancer

Dear Cancer, I have a hard time putting into words what I truly feel about you. Today I feel weary. I fought you for 3 years, 4 major surgeries in 3 years. Treatments, tests, dr's visits - they all blur together in my head. You stole the first 3 years of my only child's life. I did enjoy as much of it as I could, but it was so hard with all the pain and exhaustion. He has quite a few problems I tie directly to your presence in our lives. Control issues, anger issues... Like I said, today I am weary. I am up for more tests in August. Everything looked ok for 2 years. Then at my last check up my blood markers were up again and there were "suspicious nodes" on my ultrasound, that we can't even biopsy because they were too small or in a bad place. So I have waited for 4 months. In August I go in for more blood tests and another ultrasound. Probably a PET this time too. You wear me out. You take my time, my money, my energy, my ability to be happy and healthy and do what I want when I want. I will not say our relationship has been all bad. There have been good parts. I have learned much from you - to live in the moment. To be thankful for the good days. To enjoy what I can when I can. I have met some lovely lovely people through all this. But overall, I'd take loosing those lessons if it could send me back to my life BC. (before cancer) Please, just leave me and my family alone. We have had enough of you. I know I can fight you if I have to. I just don't want to. I just want to be done.

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