The point I'm trying to make here is that if there's anything to take away from the Elite Daily article, just take care of yourself and nix those poor habits. I clearly have had some bad habits myself, especially as a teenager when I didn't know any better and had the mentality that I could do whatever I wanted. I didn't consider the repercussions of those actions and I certainly didn't think I would be facing them at this point. I just wouldn't want others to continue making those same mistakes and wind up in a similar position. It just so happens that this type of cancer is becoming more and more prevalent amongst young people. Many people, including myself pre-diagnosis, thought that with skin cancer you just cut it out and that's that. I quickly learned that things don't work that way. I figured that if anyone saw all of the types of treatment that go into something like this, that baking in the sun and UV beds might not seem so hot. Of course, no one is really quite sure what causes cancer, but they know that there are things that increase chances of getting it. Somewhere deep in my family history it is possible that there was a genetic mutation that caused this that we just didn't know about, but making myself the world's first 5'9 lobster every time I went into the sun certainly didn't help things. My plea is to stop partaking in anything that could compromise your well-being. It's also about listening to what your body has to tell you. If something doesn't seem right then act on it right away, even if it means looking like a total hypochondriac. Please don't interpret that as a go-ahead to hop on WebMD every time you get a headache either, but consult a doctor with anything that might seem out of the ordinary.
Words cannot express my gratitude for the positive and encouraging responses that I have received following that publication, I am overly flattered and so appreciative. However, I am anything besides brave or inspiring. I do what the doctors advise me to do and that is all. Inject me with poison every other week? Okay, go ahead. Slice my neck open? Sure, cut away. Shoot laser beams at my brain? Please, have at it. Let it be known though, that in no way am I any different than the millions of other people enduring the exact same thing. Anyone in my position would take the same measures as I have in order to get through it. Many have lost their lives, but it's not like they didn't try to get better. I wouldn't want their fight to be diminished in any way, shape, or form. People face struggles every single day. For me, this is just a small hiccup that has opened my eyes to a lot of things. I am fortunate to live the happiest, most fulfilling life and would be wrong to give the impression that it is anything less than that.