Cancer Found Me
- Deb Dekoff
- Nov 26, 2017
- 2 min read
This slam style poem was read on Oct 3, 2017, at the Utah State Capitol. In attendance: the governor, who declared October as breast cancer awareness month, the state medical director, an oncology surgeon, and a newscaster who had cancer. I was the last to speak. My goal: impact.
Aug 15, 2016
That's the day I learned cancer found me.
Odd - I didn't know I was hiding from it.
After all, it was a foreigner to my family.
It was not supposed to recognize me
It was something
I didn't need to be concerned about...
No one - for generations on either side - had breast cancer.
But Cancer found me.
It chose me -
Me - with a lifetime of staying physically fit and active
Ballet, karate, running, Zumba, kickboxing and lifting weights
Cancer found me
Me - the one who others considered a "picky eater"
Who avoids fried, fats, msg, hydrogenated, soy,
GMO's
Cancer found me
Me - who avoids sugar, glucose, sucrose, dextrose,
Except for an occasional dark chocolate
Or a celebratory sliver of cake
Cancer found me
Me - the one who staunchly believes in avoiding what alters the body:
Who says NO, emphatically, to drugs and medications
Avoiding Tylenol, over the counter cold Meds, and even painkillers when birthing a 10lb baby -drug free
And has never ever smoked
Cancer found me
Me - a hairdresser, photographer, educator
Wife and mom
A regular person - just like you
Cancer found me
You can't hide from cancer.
But it can hide from you.
However
You can find it
If you take the time to look
And feel and know your body
You can find it
If you are
proactive about your health
And don't ignore those postcard reminders
That come in the mail
That you shove to the recycle bin
Because you don't have time
Because cancer is not in your family
Because you're healthy and fit
Because it shouldn't find you
Cancer found me
It can find you, too.
Comments