How Music & Community can help Cancer Survivors
“This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and the American Cancer Society. All opinions are mine alone. The views and opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the American Cancer Society. #Th3Fight #ad #CollectiveBias”
It’s no secret that Christmas time is my favorite time of the year. I mean, I’ve been playing Christmas music non-stop for since September 1st and I’m still not sick of it. I’m not sure what it is about Christmas music that makes me so happy. It could be the fact that 99% of all Christmas music has a really happy and uplifting message (although there is the 1% that makes me sob. Looking at you, Christmas Shoes.) It could be that Christmas music brings me to a safe place - being young and home in New England and not worrying about anything but boys and homework. I actually think I love Christmas music for those reasons and for one more: Christmas music reminds me that I have lived one year longer than expected and made it to another holiday season. Christmas music means I’ve survived another year.
This year, though, I’ve been pausing the Christmas music once in a while to listen to a different song - one that has really hit home for me and helped me stop and reflect on this particular Christmas season because it will be my 10th Christmas as a survivor. That song is called “The Fight” and it was written by Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas in collaboration with The American Cancer Society. Taboo is a testicular cancer survivor, and until now, he has been very private about his cancer experience. But, once he began working with the American Cancer Society, he was inspired to go public with his experience. (You can read more about Taboo’s experience here, or watch the video below)
As a pediatric cancer survivor, seeing celebrities raise awareness and share this kind of positive message with the world brings me so much hope! It’s encouraging to know that I am not alone in my continued fight as a cancer survivor.
I was 16 Years Old when I was Diagnosed
Many of you who have been around for some time know my story. You know that halfway through my sophomore year of high school, I struggled with some intense shin splints in my left leg. You know that two months before my 16th birthday, I was told that my shin pain was actually a six-inch tumor. I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer most commonly found in teenagers between the ages of 12-18. I went from being a regular high-schooler self-proclaimed band geek who was trying to get back with her ex-boyfriend to a pediatric cancer patient fighting for her life.
It was really as quick as that. I was diagnosed on a Tuesday afternoon. I came home, had my mom die my hair fire-engine red and woke up the next day all of a sudden facing my last day of “normal” school for the year. It didn’t really hit me about how my life was drastically changing until I got to 4th-period concert band and realized that it was going to be my last day playing with them. I remember getting up in front of the 120 member band and announcing to them that I had cancer and that I wasn’t going to be around for much of the school year. And I remember feeling my heart break. I had just made 8th chair out of almost 30 flutes and was so proud of myself. Making music in high school had always been my safe haven and those people were my people. I had a place where I fit in, a place where I belonged, and I had something I was actually good at. And cancer was taking it away.
It was the first of many things that cancer took away from me. It was the first of many heartbreaks that I had to survive. But, I DID survive them and that’s what I remind myself of every day. I have scars, but I earned them and I’m learning to be proud of them.
I Survive Every Day
Because that’s the thing about being a cancer survivor - the fight is never over. You don’t hear about the fight after cancer, but it’s there and it’s an everyday battle. That’s why I really love Taboo’s new song “The Fight” because it’s an anthem to all of us survivors out there, validating the fact that we are survivors and champions every day. It’s a beautiful reminder to me that my second-chance life is a gift and to not take it for granted. It’s an uplifting message that proclaims that we are never alone in our fight, and that’s the truth. Even on my darkest days post-chemo, I always have someone to turn to and lift me up.
So, during this holiday season, I’m asking you all to take action and help lift up people who are currently fighting cancer by buying Taboo’s song on iTunes. The proceeds from this song will go to help the American Cancer Society to continue to support those with cancer and research ways to prevent it.
Why the American Cancer Society?
The American Cancer Society holds a special place in my heart because of the amazing fund-raisers the hold across the nation to support and champion cancer survivors. Several of the American Cancer Society events have become important parts of my life ever since I was diagnosed because they have helped me find services and resources to aid me in my continued fight. It’s amazing to know that The American Cancer Society is currently funding more than $420 million in cancer research grants. Since 1946, they have invested more than 4.3 billion into cancer research. I, personally, was on the receiving end of one of the projects that the American Cancer Society helped to fund that drastically reduced the side effects of one of my chemotherapies, and could not be more grateful for that.
So what can you do?
Like I mentioned above, you can do something right now, today, to help with the fight and to support the survivors in your life by buying Taboo’s song “The Fight” on iTunes. In this holiday season, every little bit counts and goes a long way.
Talk to me below - has cancer affected someone in your life? How are you handling it?
