When You're Diagnosed With Cancer: Facing the Sudden Impact

There’s nothing that prepares you for the moment you hear the words: You have cancer.

Whether it’s caught early or advanced, whether your doctor is hopeful or cautiously optimistic, in that moment—it hits like a truck. Your entire world shifts. You go from living your day-to-day life to suddenly standing at what feels like death’s door. It’s not just fear. It’s a profound confrontation with your own mortality.

I had moments where I did lose it. Moments where I couldn’t breathe under the weight of it all. And yet, I also found anchors—things that grounded me then and continue to ground me now.

One of the most powerful?A simple reframe that changed everything: No one has certainty.

We all live like we do.We make plans for next year. We say we’ll get to that thing eventually. We save for vacations we hope to take “someday.” We put off dreams and delay joy because we think we have time.

But the truth is—none of us know how much time we have.

Cancer didn’t give me certainty, but it stripped away the illusion that I ever had it. And somehow, that’s freeing. It helps me stay present. It reminds me that today is a gift. That this moment—right now—isn’t guaranteed, but it’s mine.

So if you’re reading this and your mind is spiraling about the future, whether you have cancer or not, I invite you to pause. Take a deep breath. Come back to this truth:

Time is not a given. It’s a gift. And it’s not just for those of us with a diagnosis—it’s for all of us.

Join me in the fight against cancer.This May, I’m teaming up with Team Initio for Workout to Conquer Cancer—moving every single day to raise funds for life-saving research and support services.

💪 My goal is to raise $250 and show what's possible when we move with purpose, love, and community.

If my story resonated with you, I’d love for you to:

🩷 Donate

🏋️‍♀️ Join Team Initio

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Every step, every rep, every dollar—it all counts.