Last weekend I was I was able to go to a cancer summit for young adult survivors. To be a young adult survivor you would have been diagnosed when you were age 15-40. The event was put on by my good friend Matt Zachary, founder of the I'm Too Young For This Foundation. I really didn't know what to expect. I haven't been to any events that focuses on young adult survivors and the specific issues that we deal with.
I have to say this:
It was a life changing experience.
Now I have been to many cancer events before, I have been invited to speak and participate at many.
But nothing had an impact on me like this.
Being in a room of over 350 young adult survivors was amazing. It didn't matter what type of cancer they had, how old they were. We all feel the same.
It was nice for one weekend to not have to try to dance around the cancer subject or try to explain to someone why I feel the way I feel.
I also met many of my online friends in real life. Many of the people who I have had on my podcast. It was awesome to meet in person Jonny Imerman, Tamika Felder, Patti Murillo-Casa and many friends who I had only spoken to via computer or text or phone.
Knowing all of these people put me totally at ease, and being in a room of 350 plus strangers could be daunting for anyone, but it wasn't. I think even if I had only met Matt I still would have been comfortable this element.
One of the great things was that almost all of the people speaking at the summit have the same mindset as I do:
You need to empower yourself as a patient.
You need to be your own advocate.
No matter how you feel, you are not alone.
I knew all of that was true. I just didn't realize how many others felt the same way.
If you are a young adult survivor this is the event to go to.
Prepare yourself now Vegas, because OMG summit 2012 will descend upon you.
Vegas will never be the same.
And for that I am grateful.
Mel is the producer/co~host of The Vic McCarty Show. Listen Live Monday~Friday 10am-noon eastern time on wmktthetalkstation.com
Check out my podcast The Cancer Warrior on Empoweradio.com Available on demand and also available on Itunes.
Glad you had a great time and got to meet some of your online connections!
ReplyDeleteI just checked your blog out for first time and love your sense of humour during a crap time! And good to know young cancer forums are so good. I am going to one in Norway where I live for young breast cancer sufferers and survivors and hoping it is equally rewarding. Look forward to future posts.
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