Hope

Episode XXX	Hope
Thank You!
Blog Beat	Mission | Lupe Fiasco

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Much appreciation.

You've Been Patient, I Think...

This is the last official entry of 30 Days of Daffodils! I just want to thank everyone that took some time to read and/or share any of the posts for this month (or hey, even previous months *wink*), and I hope that I inspired somebody over the last 30 days. The journey has been physically, emotionally, and creatively exhausting, but definitely worth the reward.

Daffodils of thanks and appreciation for my readers, and, of course, cancer awareness...

You've Been Generous, I Know!

Hey! We [pretty much] reached our goal for my mom's OneWalk To Conquer Cancer fund! Woot! But feel free to top it off…

No pressure...

Lastly, just know that whatever it is that you do in the fight against cancer, whether it is making a donation, or just being somebody to lean on, you are the hope in the fight against cancer, and I whole-heartedly appreciate it. Thank you.

"One love. One heart. Let's get together and feel alright" - Bob Marley, One Love

Disambiguation

Episode IV XXIX	Disambiguation
Not insignificant others
Blog Beat	Lost In The Echo | Linkin Park

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A call to the cancers I have not mentioned over the month...

What'd I Miss?

The entries I have been writing over the last month were aimed at raising awareness for cancer, but even 30 days are not enough to describe the impact that cancer has on life. It would be horrendously inappropriate for me to call "30 Days of Daffodils" an extensive breakdown of cancer and the affect it has on people. The cancers I have mentioned over the last 29 days are among the most common, but I will never say that any cancer is insignificant.

One-Of-A-Kind

My original intent for the penultimate post of "30 Days" was to highlight rare cancers, which, to me, meant cancers that remain largely unknown because they have incredibly low incidence rates. Thing is, cancer is not a rare event; it's happening everywhere and can happen to anyone. It's global, acting without regard for your age, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, socioeconomic status, or even the very DNA that makes you individual. So, whether it's a common cancer or a rare one, it's still cancer, and the way it affects you will depend on you. The statistics are there for the purpose of research and general understanding of cancer's impact on society, but they can't always accurately predict what will happen to you because every case is different.

A daffodil for all cancers

Nearing An End

This fight is not just for the people that have cancer; it's about protecting the future too. We can end this.

"You may say that I'm a dreamer; but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us; and the world will be as one" - John Lennon, Imagine

Gut Sounds

Episode IV XXVIII	Gut Sounds
Just can't stomach it
Blog Beat	Invincible | Hedley ft. P. Reign

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Lost my appetite...

Insatiable

The incidence rate of stomach cancer has been declining since 1985, and the mortality rate has dropped to half of what it was 20 years ago¹. The improvement is related to better eating habits and the recognition of a bacterial infection (Helicobacter pylori) being the strongest risk factor for the development of stomach cancer^1,2. The lifetime risk of developing stomach cancer is 1 in 76 and 1 in 129 for men and women, respectively, and the 5-year (relative) survival rate is 25%.

A daffodil for stomach cancer awareness

Drop It Like It's Hot

Let's reduce the cancer mortality rate: zero percent sounds pretty good to me.

¹ Canadian Cancer Society’s Advisory Committee on Cancer Statistics. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2014. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer Society; 2014. Link to document: cancer.ca/statistics
² Canadian Cancer Society "Risk factors for stomach cancer" https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/stomach/risks/?region=nu

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow." - Mary Anne Radmacher

Family Jewels

Episode IV XXVII	Family Jewels
Right in the 'nads
Blog Beat	Soldiers | Otherwise

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An invisible kick to the pants... Sorry boys.

Junk Punch

Testicular cancer makes up 1% of cancer cases among men, with an approximately 1 in 266 lifetime risk of development¹. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among males aged 15-29². The five-year (relative) survival rate is 98%¹.

A daffodil for testicular cancer awareness

The Castration of Cancer

Need I say more? Donate here to help my mom reach her OneWalk goal!

¹ Canadian Cancer Society’s Advisory Committee on Cancer Statistics. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2014. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer Society; 2014. Link to document: cancer.ca/statistics
² Canadian Cancer Society "Risk factors for testicular cancer" https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/testicular/risks/?region=nu

"Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway." - Emory Austin

Power of Speech

Episode IV XVI	Power of Speech
Silent, But Deadly
Blog Beat	Shake It Out | Florence + The Machine

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We can speak volumes without saying anything...

Voice Box

Laryngeal cancer makes up less than 1% of cancer cases, and it much more frequent in men (1 in 173 lifetime risk) than women (1 in 840). The incidence of cancer of the larynx has steadily decreased since 2001, following the trend of reducing major risk factors like smoking and alcohol intake. The 5-year (relative) survival rate for laryngeal cancer is 63%¹.

A daffodil for laryngeal cancer awareness

Raise Your Voice

Help my mom reach her goal for OneWalk!

¹ Canadian Cancer Society’s Advisory Committee on Cancer Statistics. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2014. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer Society; 2014. Link to document: cancer.ca/statistics

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you" - Maori Proverb