National Cancer Survivor's Day & Our Customers
Last Sunday, National Cancer Survivor’s Day, “is a celebration for those who have survived, an inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and an outreach to the community.” Over the last 25 years, cancer survival rates have more than doubled and mortality rates have significantly fallen.
At Wicked Sheets, many of our favorite customer stories are of those who slept better on our bedding during their cancer treatments as their night sweats and hot flashes flared. As we’ve written about here and here, side effects from medications and chemotherapy related to cancer often are the cause of terrible night sweats and hot flashes.
Restlessness and decreased sleep hinders health, wellness, and healing from those battling cancer. One of the women you see on our site is Jean. We’ve written about Jean’s battle with cancer and how she beat it – read up on that here. Jean’s open and frank talk of the impact cancer had on her and her family shows the importance of restorative sleep, (cool and dry bedding!) and a closeness with loved ones.
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In honor of National Cancer Survivor’s Day, we’ve brought back Jean’s interview.
What advice can you give to someone facing a cancer diagnosis?
I think it’s very easy to let Cancer scare you into submission or assume it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened in your life. It’s so important to remind yourself how lucky you are to have options and access to good healthcare. I trusted my physicians. I trusted God and asked Him to remove all fear. Honestly, He did! I never felt alone. I never felt hopeless.
How did you feel day-to-day?
I stayed as active as I could and worked nearly every day. I was sick to my stomach only once and that was the day after my first chemo treatment. I failed to eat something in the morning, prior to taking my medicine. Once I made the adjustment, I never had the problem again.
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One thing Jean made sure we understood is that she is far more than just a cancer survivor. Jean is the President of OPERATION: Parent, an organization dedicated to providing on-going education, support, and hope to those raising teens and pre-teens in today’s culture. As a former volunteer at a local high school, Jean became acutely aware of the pressures that both teens and their parents face during adolescence. And as a mother of three herself, Jean knew that she could help families address and cope with the pressures of drugs, sex, violence, and mental health concerns and thus created OPERATION: Parent.
This week and every day we celebrate Jean and those like her.
As always, sleep well, sleep wicked.
