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Living with Multiple-Myeloma

Living with Multiple-Myeloma
Living with Multiple-Myeloma

Diagnosed with a rare bone-marrow cancer called Multiple-Myeloma, I was not going to let cancer destroy my life along my body. Cancer was an opportunity to start living my life. Not wait for the end of it.

My name is Guy Vincent. In December 2008 I was diagnosed with Multiple-Myeloma at the age of 47. A rare blood (bone-marrow) cancer. At a stage 3a, I was given 18-24 months to live. Multiple-Myeloma is incurable and deadly. It only represents 1% of all cancers and attacks 1,400 new people every year in Canada. Most will die of it within 3-5 years. Most are 65 years old and older. Than why me at 47?

The following year (2009) I decided that if I couldn't change the fact that I had cancer, I was going to change my attitude about it. I created a page on Facebook "Myélome-Estrie" so people closed to me could meet and talk about their concerns. Breaking the isolation and their fear about MM was my goal. In that year, I also created some videos on YouTube to give people hope to address their fears, their questions and anxiety. Since then, many people have contacted me from around the world with their stories, their encouragements and their support. It was a therapy I was not prepared for.

Suffering from such a dreadful disease like cancer is a punch in the face. You must have a good support group around you just to survive the announcement. By support group I mean friends and family. People who know you and can share your pains, your fear and your anxiety. But you must talk about it and learn about it. That way, you'll be able to talk to them about it. And especially don't be afraid to ask for help.

DON'T EVER ISOLATE YOURSELF!

They have no idea how to talk to you about what you are going through. Teach them. Your ease, even in the emotion, will help them talk to you and find ways on how to help you. Just be sensitive to their feelings because they too, suffer from your cancer.

Stop dreaming your life. Live your dreams!

Cancer can also be an opportunity to change your life. It changed mine and I will never go back at saying maybe next week or next year. It's right now that it will happen. And God willing, if I live another 5, 10 or even 25 more years... just imagine the fun I will have.
As of spring 2013, I am still not in remission but my condition is stable. And I don't plan on waiting for it to change to enjoy my life. - Guy VIncent

 

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