cancerowl
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Superstar
I'm a cancer survivor, and this has been an observation about the interactions with different cancer experiences. Read my thoughts on this at http://cancerowl.com/comic/2016/10/23/superstar
Slipp0
This needs more recognition. This is very true.
JuniperJupiter
Don't forget "OMG SO BRAVE!" Just once I want them to admit they're fucking scared shitless. Don't bullshit me.
iostream64
The second is my dad... Chemo fucked him up big time...
MelodiousDissonance
And give a freaking shout out to the caregivers
TheAdditionalPylon
Can't upvote this enough
DipseyDoodleDangerNoodle
sigh...receives*
cinnamonstyck
When you meet someone who is fighting cancer, DON'T tell them all about someone you know who died from it. It's really upsetting to them.
cancerowl
YES!
IridescentLotus
My bf survived breast cancer and told me he dislikes how much attn it gets because it overshadows other cancers that also need help
IridescentLotus
I'm glad the research and funding has saved so so many ppl now but I'd like to share the wealth more
TheImp1ication
As a cancer survivor, the second fits, although I did lose my hair. Plenty of people thinking I was a nazi
Imperialreign
As a survivor myself... this is truth
Beezlebubble
My friend who lost his battle, was the second, and it hit him HARD. Put on 150+ lbs. Super out of it.
ilikeblondehair
Chemo brain is real - I remember "waking up" from staring into space for up to several hours
XxcelticwarriorxX
I do this too, dreading the day to come, but from depression
stonerhino
Might get some hate for this, but you forgot one. The drugged, bitter cancer patient that wishes the cancer killed them a bit quicker as...
stonerhino
the bills start racking up. Keep in mind most insurances will still leave you holding upwards of 50% of the bill. This often totals that ...
stonerhino
of untold thousands of dollars.
moxymox
"Writes a longwinded blog and nobody reads it"... "Hey, I relate to that. Read my blog!"... Nah, I'm good fam.
Keairan
My mother is somewhat both people. Brilliantly talented, noticeably had chemo brain, lost hair, etc. Fuck Cancer.
doubleormuffin
People want to think of cancer treatment as glamorous, something to be heroically fought through. It's not.Even the best people hurt from it
JrElmoe
Why are we even glorifying a deadly disease like it's a trend. Next there's gonna have 2 Cholera patients falling in love.
iliketoticklemytwat
Are people really glamorizing cancer?Wtf people. It's cancer!
TheFatBastard
Second one is definitely my first wife.
Kitakita
I'm confused, I know of no bears that have had cancer
cancerowl
You do now. lol
myschweddyballs
This is painfully accurate. Think the majority of us spend our days trying to piece together shattered lives. Fuck.
Imperialreign
We are never truly "cancer free."
RetConMan
At least the cancer is free! http://imgur.com/cy10L03
myschweddyballs
I always call it less-cancery.
BlueFlannelGirl
My dad died of cancer. Got creeped out when he lost his eyebrows. He made faces at me on purpose since he knew it was creepy.
milavena
Sorry for your loss.
frankletank
Sounds like he kept his sense of humor going though, I'd be devastated if my father lost his
BlueFlannelGirl
He definitely did. Things still sucked, but it was better with humor
BlueFlannelGirl
Moral of the story: Eyebrows are important.
pelusita35
I knew a kid whose dad punished him by shaving off his eyebrows. I thought that was OTT even in 4th grade. Poor kid.
FicklePickle13
Everyone who's seen Matt Smith act has figured that one out. Dude needs some eyebrow pencil.
MeganMeow
Made me cry. I had a friend who was like the first pic, had to watch as she slowly lost her light and strength and eventuallypassed away :(
cancerowl
so sorry
clairemarie91
"Could really use a hug" kinda got to me.
PotatoBackwards
*hug*
clairemarie91
Thanks *hugsback*
PotatoBackwards
also needed one, for the past year and 2 months
clairemarie91
That seems like a specific amount of time. I don't just offer great hugs, I'm also good with lending an ear.
PotatoBackwards
thanks, PM ing you
Sionas
Yea that happens alot people like the sugar coat and avoid the ugliness.
cancerowl
Yeah we like our ugliness with a lot of sugar
RetConMan
"I meant TV-ugly, not ugly-ugly!"
MakeItBackAlright
My buddy had cancer. Friends stopped showing up because it was so rough to look at him. But he had the kind you don't get better from... 1
MakeItBackAlright
So I'm a little bitter towards people who not only get to go back to their regular lives afterwards but use it to become a darling.
alliephotoshopsthings
After I lost someone to cancer, I was pissed at people who bragged about being survivors. As if those who died didn't try hard enough....
MakeItBackAlright
I feel ya. Like congrats, your body wasn't quite as tenacious about killing you
Debiandog
I have cancer and find it annoying as f*** that people treat me as a dainty Little Flower now. When before they thought of me as a hard ass
TheGreatAku
My grandmother had secret treatments. Didn't tell anyone that she had cancer til it had gotten terminal. She didn't want to be pitied.
Debiandog
Yea I should have gone that route
Debiandog
Yea I should have gone that route
TheGreatAku
It's all good, man. If it means anything, I don't pity you or anything. I just hope you beat it.
TheGr8ness
What is "chemo brain"? Never heard of it, genuinely no sarcasm.
TheGr8ness
Thanks for the info guys, +1 to all of you for helping a brother out!
RetConMan
From what I understand, chemo kills all cells, but kills cancer cells slightly better. Then hope your body recovers and the cancer doesn't.
themightyfloof
I'm having chemo for the second time. My brain has gone to mush, I drop stuff, I can't concentrate.
Anthraxwastaken
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chemo-brain/home/ovc-20170224
TheGr8ness
thanks for the info
itslikesomesortofneutronbomb
My patients say it makes them unable i concentrate or remember things. It's from the poison we give them to kill fast replicating cells :(
itslikesomesortofneutronbomb
Oops * unable to
Imperialreign
Not just during treatment... but years later has been shown to influence thought and memory. Its a long term effect of chemo.
SugarSmack
The drugs fuck with your mind. I went from being very articulate to feeling like I was reaching through a cloud to try and grasp for words.
doubleormuffin
I hated it, every bit of it. I honestly think chemo brain was the worst part of treatment for me (since I didn't have a real risk of dying)
SugarSmack
It sucks when you think you may die too, because you think...these could be my last moments and I'm not able to experience it completely.
SugarSmack
BTW, I'm glad you're ok. :) Survivors unite!
SugarSmack
Right? So foggy. The benedryl they give to control the side effects of the chemo did a major number on me too! Knocks me out!
BiteTheHandsThatThieve
My friend had it. He is doing well these days and is still one of the smartest people i know. So there's hope.
SugarSmack
I'm fine now that the treatments are over. I've been cancer free for five years on October 30th. :) Thanks for the kind words though.
BiteTheHandsThatThieve
That's awesome to hear :)
alterego2765
The awareness is wonderful but people forget cancer, and its treatment, can be very non-glamorous.
TongueTiedLabourerfromtheLandoftheLittlePeople
Apparently the chemo gives you amazing skin... for a while. Afterwards it's like you've aged ten years.
Elbowdeepinabeepbeepsheep
Can confirm, watched my mother waste away..slowly. Same with my father. They lived ten long years but I don't think I can call that living.
PrinceSatisfactory
Here's to hoping CRISPR changes some of that
KillingTlme
No one forgets that. I have never met someone who thought cancer was glamorous.
alterego2765
It's more of a naïveté about the disease. Especially from someone who hasn't experienced it.
usernamepickingsucks
What?! Who thought cancer was glamorous? Both categories of people portrayed are unlucky, one just slightly less than the other
alterego2765
Neither one is lucky imho. Some people forget its not just about the color pink, wristbands, and hashtags.
alterego2765
It's about being there and support and love and self exams and doctor visits and healthcare issues and medication and mental health.......
humminbirdtunes
I wish I could up vote you more. Your comments made me tear up. I'm a long term survivor too and it wasn't pretty. Years later and I -
humminbirdtunes
- still deal with grief, survivors guilt, ptsd, anxiety, the constant fear of losing those close to me and those are just the mental issues.
r0xj00
Susan Komen is a terrible charity anyway. Better off donating to another.
Alighieri2000
But why are they furries tho
apolloin
Who else deserves cancer?
AgolfHiller
Because animals are cute and humans are cancer
cancerowl
Furries! Ha! That's hilarious! I didn't think about that before. I just drew animals because it's more fun and better received.
PhilosophicalPickle
good save op
AntonioAdorno
Also an animal-like base allows for more unique characters. Kind of like using ridiculous hair colors or styles.
UrsoKronsage
Furries get cancer too
doubleormuffin
Hell, I've heard people argue that they literally are cancer
pelusita35
It's very similar to "invisible" illnesses like myasthenia gravis. No one ever thinks you're really sick.
Waaahmbulance
What's that like?
Waaahmbulance
The disease, I mean
pelusita35
It's weird. Exercise makes you weaker. Without meds you can die b/c you have trouble breathing. Your muscles don't work. My husb has it.
Waaahmbulance
My mother has it..found out when I was a terrible teen and made fun of how half her face it weird
Waaahmbulance
Apparently it affects nerve and muscle control...never brought it up since
pelusita35
It's exhausting and demoralizing b/c you can't do what you used to. Your mom understands and loves you.
Waaahmbulance
*is