SHARON ANDRES (aka CANCER GLAMAZON)
From: Las Vegas, NV USAEmail
Member since: November 2007
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I am a: Patient
Coping with...Lymphoma, Hodgkin
Date of Birth: --/---- Date diagnosed: --/---- Sex: Female

Prepare to Live Buddy: Yes
Contactable by Prepare to Live members: Yes
Email: luxebeavixen@gmail.com
Alternate Email: sharonlandres@yahoo.com

01: How has cancer positively affected you: It has brought focus to my life. Being a young adult, I was still caught up in just being young and living the fast & loose life, after all I do a very good job at that. But I really lack(ed) drive and passion. Having a life-threatening disease really puts your life in direction. And right now the focus is to cure myself and the direction is to LIVE!

02: What does "cancer" mean to you as a Young Adult: You're programmed to think that cancer is gross and icky and "you're gonna die" but now being someone with cancer it definitely puts life in a new perspective. Everyone's going to die one way or another. I'm just not letting cancer-schmancer be the way I'm leaving this world. Cancer is prevalent. It affects many. Not just those living with it, but those who have love ones living with it. Yes, cancer spreads, but cancer spreads in a positive way too. I never imagined the type of impact I have already created once I've told I have cancer.

03: What’s the one thing you’d say to someone who has just been diagnosed: I too have been in your shoes so know that you are not alone and you will survive and thrive!

04: What things won’t a Doctor tell you: Well, there are certain things that a doctor won't tell you off the bat which is why I suggest that a patient ask as many questions as they possibly can whatever it is that draws a concern no matter how lame the questions are. One question I asked was if I can pop my zits during treatment! That's a crazy question but I wanted to know!

05: What advice do you have for a caregiver, doctor, or nurse who is treating a Young Adult with cancer: Patience. I see the unwilling burden I've placed on my caregivers. It's not easy seeing them having to go through this struggle with me. Empathy. It's hard to relate and understand for they are not the lucky Cancer Winner but being empathetic and showing compassion works. Genuine. Do what you say you'll do. Mean what you mean. We're in a very vulnerable spot and some of us just aren't resilient at times--we need all the genuine support we can get.

06: To me, cancer is: what you choose to think it is. To me it is a life-altering experience filled with emotions, tribulations, and ends with success. Cancer is also a f'ing pain in the ass so I want to kill it because it has put my goals and plans on hold. Cancer is a motivator to align priorities I had; it has been that good ol' kick in the pants that I needed. Cancer is another chapter in my book of Life. Cancer is something that I will overcome.

07: What is the best kind of support to give/receive: The best kind of support to give is when I support other cancer babes and badasses. We're going through the same things so it's like a sorority/fraternity. Only we truly understand what the other person is going through. A close runner-up is knowing that I am giving a glimpse of what my life is with cancer through my blog. The best kind of support to receive is genuine, I'll-stand-by-you-through-it-all support. My family has been my greatest support and my friends that are like sisters to me as well. It's so funny; they act like they're going through cancer too. It's great and amazing the things that they have been doing to show their support.

08: Who or what were your best resources for information: The moment my primary physician and surgeon gave me the inkling that they believe what I have is malignant, I started researching right away. I first went online and did a whole bunch of Sherlock Holmes on my presumed illness. From what I gathered and reading the symptoms I deemed it was cancerous as well. When I finally got the confirmed diagnosis on my biopsy I went straight to the library and checked out numerous books on cancer: my cancer, cancer fitness, cancer bios, cancer nutrition, etc. I also started looking up things locally and I found out that there was a local chapter for my cancer in Las Vegas. So I went to their offices as well and joined. They have been quite supportive too. With all these resources I was able to understand my cancer more, cancer itself, and gather questions for my oncologist.

09: What has helped you the most:Staying focused on curing my disease, praying constantly to God to keep me determined & "healthy" & strong and remaining positive. Having a positive outlook helps immensely---you have to have a healthy mental outlook through this all. I can't stress that (oops! We're not supposed to stress!) enough. I love to joke about my cancer, life in cancer's face, and daydream about my dreamy oncologist--apparently he's all the rage. As I like to say,"That's why I chose him. Whatever gets me through and hey, it gives me something to look forward to when I come back for treatment!" **That is NOT why I chose my oncologist. He is very well-qualified. Him being a Dr. McDreamy was a bonus perk!

10: What’s your favorite tip or trick for dealing: I do have my Cancer Glamazon alter-ego: Hozhoni, which means walks in beauty. She's my warrior samurai sword swinging cancer ass-kicking babe---and she looks mighty phyne doing it too! I also envision my chemo as superheroes too that were trained to defend and honor their goddess: Hozhoni. I'm on ABVD so all four drugs have their own superhero. Those are four smoking hott ladies that gun-sling and are programmed to KILL KILL KILL those evil, evil cancer cells and save the white blood cell race. I also like to think of my chemo regimen as my chemo cocktail. Being from Las Vegas I am quintessential when it comes to partying. So thinking of it as having shots works for me!

11: The thing that keeps you going is: knowing that I am going to thrive and survive! I have so many goals that I'm looking forward to accomplishing them too after I accomplish fighting for my life! I like my life so TRUST ME--I'm going to fight for it! Looking at the faces of those important to me is a good motivator too. I want to be a success story and I'm pretty darn excited to add: Cancer Survivor to my resume. Now that's something that not everyone can say and I'm going to be proud to share that. I'm already a very colorful person. Now this just adds a color with a punch!

12: What are you doing to Prepare to Live: Staying focused physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's extremely tough but I'm a fighter...and I'm spunky too. Cancer doesn't know who it's messing with!

What additional comments, experiences or ideas would you like to share: I have created a blog to document my cancer experience. For those interested you can read it at: http://hozhoniandthefoxforce4.blogspot.com.