Special certificate: brain cancer

Surviving
Written By Liz Salmi
PHOTO: Me at TEDxSacramento

PHOTO: Me at TEDxSacramento

In 2013 I celebrated my five-year cancer-versary (anniversary of the date one is diagnosed with cancer). In early 2014 I will celebrate the five-year anniversary of my second craniotomy.

In this medical world--this crazy, crazy, world--patient advocates like me celebrate weird things like these. Maybe it is because at first a cancer diagnosis takes away your sense of self, your purpose.

I lost my job. I felt like a total loser even though, logically, losing my job had nothing to do with my skills. It was cancer's fault. (It was also my new employer's fault for letting me go just because I got sick so soon after they hired me. Me? Bitter?)

A cancer-versary is like an award. I wish I could add "cancer survivor" to my LinkedIn page right after the section about Honors & Awards. Or maybe I can add it to the section about special certificates?

It is crazy scrolling back through this blog. I used to write every day, at least weekly, back when I had no job. My life was BRAIN CANCER, 24/7.

Today, now that I am healthily living with brain cancer, I see my diagnosis like an attribute.

I have blue eyes and brown hair. I can deadlift 140 lbs. and I have brain cancer.

Liz Salmi

Liz Salmi is Communications & Patient Initiatives Director for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Over the last 15 years Liz has been: a research subject; an advisor in patient stakeholder groups; a leader in “patient engagement” research initiatives; and an innovator, educator and investigator in national educational and research projects. Today her work focuses on involving patients and care partners in the co-design of research and research dissemination. It is rumored Liz was the drummer in a punk rock band.

https://thelizarmy.com
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