Scary Stories

I’m sure that most of you (that aren't my family/friends in flesh) see a lot of the same things that I see on social media.  We are friends with the same people on Facebook.  We've liked the same pages and blogs.  Sometimes we write about the same things.  And, sometimes we write about what other people wrote about.  And that’s exactly what I’m about to do. 

 I read a posting on Facebook from someone that is an early stage'r and she wishes that she had more availability to scans just like our fellow further staged warriors.  I think all of us under Stage 2 (even some at Stage 2) wish that there was additional testing other than an annual blood test and chest x-ray.  And that's if we’re lucky.  It’s a concern to everyone diagnosed with cancer...of any kind.  It’s an unseen threat and if it’s growing and gaining strength in the shadows, we want that motion-sensor flood light turned on full blast to expose that bastard. 

And it’s all too common of a scary story that you read online.  Someone is a stage zero, one or two and then after however long the cancer is “back” and spread… severely.  Sometimes I have to force myself to stop reading these 'scary stories' (for lack of a better term) - blogs - which is the very same thing that I do to cope in my own way.  It’s a terrible thing, you mentally put yourself in their shoes and start going down the ‘what-if’ spiral.  I try to remind myself that their story is just that: theirs.  Just like my story is mine.  Everybody is different as is everybody's body is different.   

The truth is that we will never know if the beast is far away, completely uninterested in us or if he’s right on our heels breathing down our necks.  We, regardless of stage, never want to find out that the damn thing has sunk its teeth in.  And I am sure that if that ever happens we would have wanted to know if we could have somehow caught it earlier.

The other morning I had this epiphany, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had the same exact one:  What if we work together, get everyone's 'scary stories' together and send them to whoever they need to go to? 

Yes, this I understand this is pretty damn vague.  But remember, this is a very early sketch with hopes of becoming a masterpiece, so excuse me if I seem a little ahead of myself.  I guess the idea really is gathering scary stories of lower staged warriors that became later staged warriors.  Then from there, send these up to...I don't know...the medical board?  The Senator?  The g-damn President of the United States??  Someone that would listen and possibly understand that even though it was "caught early" it can still come back because that is the asshole known as Melanoma?  Someone that would listen and possibly understand that we could use other testing - if not only for our health, but also for our mental well-being.   

I don't even know how to start this or where to take it, but I had to get my thought out in the open.  When I think about it, my heart flutters a little bit with excitement...excitement to be part of a potential movement.  I want to help others that are new to this sad and frustrating disease and also ones that know it well. Let's continue our ROAR!  

*Disclaimer:  In NO way am saying "scary stories" as a meaning of disrespect.  I know I am talking about other's lives here - I understand they are not just merely 'stories' - I have the utmost respect for anyone battling any cancer.  

Peace and Love ~ Am