What really got me focused on cancer was when my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, and even though she was a well-to-do person, I found that her treatment costs were crippling.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Having cancer empowered me to take more risks. I knew beating cancer was going to shape me, but it wasn't going to be all of me.
Another inspiration that has helped me get through has been Lance Armstrong's story. My cancer is not nearly as bad as his, but I believe in staying motivated and keeping as fit as you can.
I've kind of got an out in cancer. It keeps things in perspective for me.
When you get cancer, it's like really time to look at what your life was and is, and I decided that everything I've done so far is not as important as what I'm going to do now.
When I found out I had cancer, I just said one thing: 'I want to hold on to life' and that changed everything for me.
My cancer scare changed my life. I'm grateful for every new, healthy day I have. It has helped me prioritize my life.
The battle against cancer has made me strong. It's like winning a war! When I was diagnosed, I was told by doctors my kidney, liver and other organs could fail. It was tough. I didn't know if I could save my life. But I was positive, and because of that, the doctor told me that I would be a man who would never have cancer.
My cancer allowed me to explore who I really was. Now I feel like a woman who's able to handle whatever life has dealt her.
It might be hard to believe, but as difficult as cancer was, in some ways it was good for me.
Cancer taught me to stop saving things for a special occasion. Every day is special. You don't have to get cancer to start living life to the fullest. My post-cancer philosophy? No wasted time. No ugly clothes. No boring movies.