Words from those who have had cancer and who are now healthy may be helpful or comforting to those who are currently going through treatment. A journey of a survivor comes full circle as they use their experience to help others face similar obstacles.

How did you respond to people's comments outside of the hospital?

Jeannette

Although I would love to say that I ignored them, this was not always the case. I was at an age (12 and 13) where my peers' opinions were often really taken to heart. The stares and pointing fingers now and then, especially at school, really did hurt sometimes. But then there were times that I felt like I was in my own little world and really didn't care. I remember thinking, "They have no idea," and just not caring. At this time I really just focused on my true friends, my family, and all those I knew were there for me. The other people just didn't matter to me. I was in a little world of my own. I only had to go to school for one month during the time of my illness, the rest of the time I was either in the hospital or had tutors at home, so in some ways I had it easy.

Inspirational Quotes and Poems

Jeannette

So much of what got me through my struggle with cancer was the SUPPORT of my family, friends, and of course the staff at UW Madison Hospital. Everyone's love, support, faith, hope, and determination propped me up when I was down, and really rubbed off on me, giving me such a POSITIVE ATTITUDE and so much HOPE that I would be OK. This positive attitude and never dying hope given to me by those around me really is what got me through it all.

These are some inspirational quotes and poems that helped me keep a positive attitude during rough times.

"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." - John Rushkin

"It's not whether you get knocked down; It's whether you get back up." -Vince Lombardi

"We cannot direct the wind...but we can adjust the sails...." - Anonymous

"No pessimist discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit." - Helen Keller "Amazing isn't it how some people see the basket half empty, and others see it half full. Some see life hopeless, others hopeful. Even when things are far from easy or perfect, if you can think of the good, the beautiful, you'll be more than sustained...you'll conquer." - Anonymous

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of ATTITUDE on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our ATTITUDES." - Charles Swindoll

"There's Sunlight Waiting Behind the Clouds"

There is always the hope of tomorrow
To brighten the clouds of today...
There is always a corner for turning
No matter how weary the way...
So when you look ahead to tomorrow
Trust that you'll find waiting there
The sunlight that seemed to be hidden
By yesterday's clouds of despair.
-by Helen Steiner Rice

"There Have Been Angels in My Life"

There have been angels in my life.
While they haven't arrived with a blast of trumpets or a rustle of
wings, I've known them just the same.
They performed their acts in human guise, sometimes borrowing the faces
of family and friends, sometimes posing as well meaning strangers.
You have known them too.
When just the right word was needed, when an act of kindness made a
great difference...or perhaps you heard a voice whispering in a night of
sorrow...the words not quite clear, but the meaning unmistakable --
"There I hope...There is hope."
-anonymous