Hi, Meg here. Today I wanted to write about all of the insecurities that I developed after having cancer at 26. Not only that, but I wanted to write about how important it is for people to join our Fight Club, and truly how much it could help women like me.
You may have already read my hair-loss blog post, but cancer took a lot more from me than my hair. It took away having a “normal” stomach, my ability to eat or drink certain foods/drinks without vomiting, being able to fall asleep at night, having a normal period, and more than anything, my self-confidence.
Cancer also gave me things; 20 extra pounds of fat, night sweats every night so intense that I sweat through to the mattress, scars that can’t be hidden, menopausal mood swings, hot flashes and nausea, and the constant fear that I’m going to develop another type of cancer. These are the negatives.
Amongst all of the bad is always a silver lining. I was able to develop relationships with incredible doctors, become closer with my friends and family, discover who was fully there for me, learn how to love myself through my many flaws, and have an even better appreciation for wanting to follow my passions and truly grasp how short life is. Part of the way I do that is by working with Fighting Pretty and trying my best to make current, past and future fighters feel all of the love and support and support that I can possibly provide.
Unfortunately, because of the state of the world right now, patients are having to face chemo and radiation completely alone. I cannot stress how heavy those treatments feel while alone. The anxiety, the mental and physical pain, it all wears on you.
Many people battling cancer will never see the other side of it, or they will struggle even more than I did. This is why I want to bring up Fight Club. This is a way to continually support women that may not know how much they need it, or don’t know how to ask for it. I didn’t realize how much a pair of gloves or a care package would mean to me until I received my Pretty Package.
To this day, when I look at my teal gloves, I tear up. I tear up every time I hear the word “ovarian” or read any of the countless stories from other fighters and survivors. Cancer is something that never really leaves you, even after you beat it. It’s always looming.
Fight Club is a way to support strong, beautiful, exhausted women and remind them that they aren’t alone. Only $10 per month will directly help 12 women a year feel all of those things that we already know they are. Imagine if fifty people joined the Fight Club, and how many more women we could support? For the same price as one one Starbucks latte, you can make someone feel supported and seen.
I’m sitting here telling all of you this today because it’s important. Cancer is not something anyone should do alone, and even the smallest sentiment goes a very long way. Help more women to get through this join our Fight Club
Meg Nanna is the Fighting Pretty social media manager who is full of love, inspiration and hope. Follow her at @mnanna on Instagram.