The C Word...

The essence of language relies on our ability to link words to convey meaning. However, one word stands alone in the english language that carries with it a meaning far more profound than any author or poet could ever illustrate with 1,000 pages. The word of the day is CANCER. The world is forced to witness the wrath of Cancer on a daily basis with a sort of helpless fealing. Our country is capable of embracing and defeating concepts such as terrorism and poverty, yet we are humbled when it comes to maintaining our own bodies.

Until last year, Cancer was just something I saw on TV and read about in magazines. However, last year I too got a reality check when my Grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. It made me realize that no one is safe. No matter how genuine a person you are, no matter how much money you have, no one is safe from Cancer. My grandmother was one of the lucky ones. Her Dr.'s discovered her cancer early enough that they were able to operate and as of Nov. 2006 she was declared cancer free.

Such a close call can really provoke you to reevaluate your perspective on this crazy unpredictable world we live in. Too often do we fall victim to routine and take for granted that tomorrow will come and go just as today did. If anything, my grandmothers close call with cancer made me realize you have to be proactive in order to truly accomplish anything in this world.

Modern society has the luxury of so many avenues that can be utilized to reach others. The most recent of such avenues I have embraced is blogging. The ripple effect of blogs is undeniable and this is precisely why I encourage people regardless of their connection to cancer to explore the blog my communications class and I are developing for HEAL MAGAZINE. Heal, is a magazine written for cancer survivors, that strives to help patients nurture their mind, body, and spirit as they transition into a period of recovery. Considering the quality of life embraced worldwide, it is inevitable that everyone will have some sort of confrentation with cancer. Even if you are lucky enough to avoid cancer for eighty+ years, I promise you that someone you care about will be afflicted. I am a devout advocate of the cliche "knowledge is power" and when it comes to cancer we will never know enough. However, this blog along with HEAL MAGAZINE is a good start. http://healtoday.com



With the infinite amount of information the internet provides, it can be overwhelming when you begin to research and learn more about Cancer. Here are a few other websites my class and I have compiled to get you started...

www.livestrong.org (Lance Armstrong's Cancer website where you can also read his blog) www.thecancerblog.com
http://www.thecancerblog.com
http://acscsn.org
http://www.redtoenail.org
http://www.lindiskin.com/cancer-skinny
http://www.blogforacure.com/community
http://cancercreatives.com/pblog/index.php