Having Cancer In A Pandemic World

Living life with cancer is already a pandemic for us patients, and even our allies and support system. We isolate, we avoid places and people because a cold, the flu, an accident, among other things, can take our lives faster than cancer. We are ALWAYS at high risk.

What’s the difference with COVID-19?

For me, it’s the news, social media, the lack of consciousness of people still not practicing social distancing. Those cause me the most anxiety and concern.

Anxiety because I need to go out and get treatment to stay alive. Same time as going out is a life’s threat. If I am strong enough to practice social distancing for myself for the past two years and a half (time I have been undergoing chemotherapy), why can’t others do it for a month? For themselves, for their families, for their loved ones?

Concern because the longer others don’t practice social distancing and keep having gatherings, or going out without observing the guidelines to slow the spread, the longer this pandemic is a threat to all humans.

These are my daily thoughts. But, just as before, I have chosen me. My self-care, my mental health, my life. I am limiting social media and news outlets (only as deemed necessary). I listen to my medical team and their recommendations, because after all, we may all have cancer, but each of us is a unique case. I spend virtual time with my loved ones, those who understand what this pandemic means to me, to the world.

We, cancer patients, are already pandemic warriors. We are strong enough to come out of this alive and keep fighting for our lives. We just need everyone else to be as strong as us. We are warriors. Stay strong.

Yvonne Vidal-Blandon
34 years old
Stage VI Colon Cancer Warrior