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I am a cancer survivor.
My story is about Attitude.
To me, live strong means to leave defeatism behind the moment you get your diagnosis. I was lucky enough to learn at an early age that misfortune doesn't determine your fate.
In August 2000, I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. It was an inconvenient time to be forced to deal with such an obstacle. The previous year and a half I had been riding high, traveling the United States, meeting and speaking with thousands of Americans and fulfilling a dream of running for President of the United States. Each tomorrow promised new and invigorating experiences. Cancer was the last thing on my mind. That all changed when a Senate doctor recommended I have tests run on several irregular spots on my face. I was delivering a speech at the Republican National Convention, and after the speech my schedule was packed with campaign appearances. I knew finding time for the necessary tests would be difficult. But I took control, and immediately following my speech I went to the Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland for tests. There the excellent medical staff informed me that my condition could be serious and that I should get home to Arizona for further tests and, ultimately, surgery. In an effort not to alarm family, friends, staff and supporters, and in truth, because I was still trying to comprehend this frightening but manageable situation, I returned to the Convention and fulfilled my obligation to appear with Governor Bush on the night of his nomination speech, then headed to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. As I returned home, I had time to reflect. In 1993, I had a cancerous lesion removed from my arm. For nearly 7 years I had been cancer free, visited my doctors every 3 months, taken reasonable precautions against sun exposure - even admonished the press corps covering my Presidential campaign to wear sunscreen and limit sun exposure. Later in life I had done everything right and yet here I was. My surgery was 2 mornings later. The operation included an incision running from my left temple to my neck and the removal of lymph nodes and a salivary gland. I was fortunate - the cancer had not spread. My recovery went smoothly and I returned to the campaign trail. But my experience served as a wakeup call. For me, cancer was a deeply personal battle that I fought in a very public way. I never thought I was going to die - I've had too many close calls in my day to give in to defeatist thoughts like that. Instead, my thoughts were of my family and how proud I am of them. I remembered certain cancer survivor stories I had heard and about the many survivors I had met over the years. I thought about the need to fund cancer research and to find cures for cancer. Finally, I think of how vitally important it is for me, and for everyone, to visit the doctor regularly. It saved my life, and it just may save yours.
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