Cancer Taught Me: Andrea Hanna's Story
Words have more power than you can imagine. Good, bad, compassionate, hurtful – the list goes on. “You have cancer” are words.
Aggressive, chemotherapy, radiation, quick decisions to be made, and time is precious – those are words too.
The initial sucker punch to the belly was replaced with plans A, B and C – my usual way of dealing with anything thrown at me. Then I decided that it was a “word” that I could allow to consume me or I could let it go. I chose to let it go.
“You have never lost the ability to look through the eyes of a child.”
A gift of wise words someone once gave me. I took them to heart and have used them every day.
Survivor/Warrior
I am not surviving as much as taking up a sword and shield as I journey through life. I am the only one who can choose, and I choose to be optimistic, positive and happy.
Life, love, beauty, joy, moments in time
Live life in moments of time.
Love and express it generously to everyone, but most importantly to those you love deeply and sometimes forget to tell them.
Look each day to the smallest beauty that surrounds you and let it give you joy.
I gift you poems to read from my favorite poet Robert Frost: “The Road Not Taken” and “Walking Through the Woods on a Snowy Evening.”
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep but I have many miles to go before I sleep.”
- Andrea Hanna, Breast Cancer Survivor
Cancer Taught Me explores the stories of patients who received treatment at Beebe's Tunnell Cancer Center. The stories are in their own words.