So what’s your take on cancer apparel?
I’ve got mixed opinions on the topic.
This blog is, after all, called Battling Cancer, so obviously I concur with the philosophy that often dealing with any kind of cancer is a battle. Besides the mental and medical armor there are the breastplate and helmet of the physical.
I’m happy to wear that armor for those I love and support. One year a group of friends all had red shirts made up for the MS walk as one of our writing pals has been diagnosed with MS. We had witty clever, writerly things put on the shirts. It was great fun while dealing with a very serious topic.
There are more cool, chic, trendy cancer apparel items available than I can possibly share with you today. But I will share some of my favorites.
Cancer apparel has multiple purposes:
- support for a cause that has touched you
- raising funds for research and other related issues
- awareness
But if I (me personally) were actually battling cancer, would I display my battle on my chest, on my hat, or would I be private in my battle? As private as one can be dealing with the treatment and side effects issues.
I don’t know the answer to that. Obviously this is a personal choice.
This topic was discussed in one of my early posts called The Defining Moment.
Here is an excerpt:
I have observed a unique phenomenon over the years–patients diagnosed with cancer who make a very personal decision to hide the diagnosis from anyone outside a very select circle of perhaps only one or two people. They generally only reveal the information if it becomes necessary.
I was on the support team of a mail carrier who came to our facility for in-patient treatment. He took large chunks of accumulated vacation time for each cycle of his chemo and recovery. This continued for several rounds of chemo, and in the course of my interaction with him he shared that no one at his place of employment knew of his cancer diagnosis. He had not only accepted his diagnosis but he was determined his diagnosis would not define him.
I’ve thought about this often.
Does diagnosis define you? Are you your diagnosis?
Does the world treat you different once they know you have cancer? Do those you once interacted with change as they become unable to cope with your reality? Is it fear of loss or confrontation with their own mortality? Perhaps it is both.
Once the point of acceptance is reached it is your choice how you will deal with the diagnosis. As a caregiver, friend, loved one or family member, I believe it is merely our responsibility to respect that decision.
A final thought. Do you treat you differently? Have your priorities shifted outside of the diagnosis? Once you reached that moment of acceptance how did you begin to see the world around you? Defining moments tend to be the sifters and sorters of life. People and events trickle through the sieve and everything is re-evaluated.
If you have a chance, let me know what you think. In the meantime, here’s a selection of items to show your support, or to select as your trendy battle gear.
IT’S YOUR CHOICE!
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Raquel Billiones has a PhD in Biology and has over 15 years experience as a researcher, scientific English teacher, and medical writer. Since 2006, she has been a freelance WAHM specializing in medical writing and scientific documentation. 
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