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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.

Dear Cancer. I would say the last year and a half has been a blast. But it hasn't. In many aspects I still feel, thanks to you, that my life is ruined. My verbal communication skills have gone out the window. You have left me with hideous scars over my neck. You have taken away some precious friends. You continue to torture my uncle. My confidence is shot to hell. There are things I'll never be able to do again. Simple things from licking an ice cream, to sticking my tongue out playfully at my younger siblings. To whistling. To being able to properly taste my favourite foods (IF I can ever eat again that is!) You made me lose my hair, the ONLY thing I liked about myself and gave me a fucked up Mohawk. You made my family cry and my siblings scared to come near me. You made me angry. And through all the pain, and fatigue and nearly feeling like I was dying. I STILL KICKED YOUR ASS! Fuck you cancer! Just fuck you! After you there is no 'getting back to normality' it's just a matter of making a new normal. And thanks to my family, friends and loved ones. I am finally getting that. Thanks to them. Not you. What good do you ever do?! You just take from good innocent people. Worthless waste of space

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