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I Had Cancer Guidelines

We're all here for similar reasons - we've been touched by cancer in some way. It’s up to all of us to show each other that no one is alone. Your IHadCancer profile is your own place to call home during this crazy thing called cancer, we just ask that you keep these simple guidelines in mind when participating.

1. Always Be Nice. This is a place for connections and conversations – we encourage you all to talk openly but please remain considerate in all of your engagement. Don’t post obscene, hateful or objectionable content. Abuse and disrespect will not be tolerated in the IHC community and is subject to deletion and user removal at our discretion.

2. Be a Good Friend. The IHC community is a family. Please remember to be a good friend to the connections you make on IHC. Ask questions that you wish someone would ask you; if you can’t find the right words to say, send a hug, it can speak louder than words. A simple gesture goes a long way.

3. Don't Spam. This includes sending unsolicited messages of any nature, posting links to unrelated content, promoting a survey, fundraiser or product where it shouldn’t be promoted. If you aren’t sure if something is appropriate to post, e-mail us and we’ll let you know.

4. Think Before You Post. Everything you post on IHadCancer is secure, but it is up to you to monitor how much or how little information you are sharing about yourself and your experience. Please don’t share personal or identifiable information like your mailing address or your full name and don’t share other member’s information.

5. If You See Something, Say Something. We work hard to make sure these guidelines are followed closely but if you see something that doesn’t’ feel right to you, please let us know. We review every report we receive and will take anything you say to heart. We promise.

6. Be Open. Welcome newcomers and help guide them through this journey based on your own experience. Whether you are a survivor, fighter, caregiver or supporter, you have valuable information that can very well help someone else who is just beginning the cancer journey. Be open to sharing experiences and give someone else the gift of your time.

Thanks for being a part of our community. It’s up to all of us to ensure that IHadCancer remains a place for us all to call home when dealing with the ups and downs of a cancer diagnosis.

AndreaH's picture
AndreaH Connect

Fighter: Cervical Cancer

Dear Cancer, I am sorry I ignored you. I knew you were there long before the doctors did. I remember the first time I bled after sex. I wanted to believe it was my period, but I knew it wasn't. There was too much blood. I remember when the pelvic pressure and the discharge began. I felt inside to see if I had forgotten a tampon. I knew I hadn't. I felt something low inside. My cervix? I thought maybe it was a benign polyp. Still, there was your name in the back of my mind. Then, when I finally got medical coverage and your name still echoed in the back of my mind, I decided to call the doctor. They couldn't see me, a new patient, for a month. When I finally went in and the nurse practitioner said HPV, I felt relief. Then she performed the pap test and I bled all over her floor. Your name echoed. 'Your uterus is high, let's get you an ultrasound. It's probably fibroids.' When she called me to come in the following Tuesday, your name was so loud in my mind. 'Your pap smear is abnormal, I am referring you to a gynecologist for a biopsy.' CANCER! I knew it was you! After the ultrasound, she called me in and said, 'There are no fibroids. Your cervix is enlarged. We'll see what the biopsy says.' The gynecologist couldn't see me, a new patient, for another month. When I went in I thought, 'Finally we are going to do a biopsy! We are going to find you!' Before she even looked inside, she told me she thought you were there. After the colposcopy and biopsy, she brought my mom in the room and told us, 'at least Stage 2.' At the end of the week, the gynecological oncologist said, 'Stage 3b. No longer surgical. Radiation, Chemo, Brachytherapy. ASAP!' Finally. They know what I've known all this time. And now WE WILL DEFEAT YOU."
Sep 04 2016 9:27pm |
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