Cancer Survivor Carolyn Taylor shares her story
Since her illness, Carolyn has been inspired to explore photographically, how women with cancer are inherently connected.
When and what type of cancer were you diagnosed with?
I was diagnosed in 2006 with stage 1 ovarian and endometrial cancers at age 43.
How did you feel once diagnosed?
When I was first diagnosed I felt really vulnerable and raw. I felt really removed from myself, like an outsider looking in. Thinking is this really happening? But because of my family history, I always knew that this was a very strong possibility, so in a strange way I was expecting it.
What course of action did you take after diagnosis?
After I was diagnosed I did as much research as I could to arm myself with information about my disease. I had to wait a week to see a gynaecologic oncologist. I used that time to scour the Internet so I knew what my options were going to be and my husband and I could make an informed decision quickly.
What helped you get through the experience?
What really helped me get through this experience was the support and love of my husband, family and friends, my faith in my doctors, and keeping a very positive attitude. I never thought that I was sick; this was just a hurdle that I had to get over. I never doubted that I would be fine. I also felt it was incredibly important to talk about it, to be very open and honest about what I was going through.
If you could offer other cancer patients one piece of advice – what would it be?
If there was one piece of advice that I could offer to another cancer patient would be that knowledge is power. Find out as much information as possible about your illness and your treatment options.
How did your blog come about? And what do you hope to achieve through writing it?
My blog came about after I won a small business grant from British Airways giving me 10 round trip flights anywhere they fly. It was a contest based on a series of essays talking about how face-to-face travel could change my business. As I am by trade an advertising photographer, I discussed how I wanted to take a more photojournalist route in my life. That since having cancer I was looking for a way to document how women with cancer are intrinsically related. By concentrating on cancer survivors, I am looking to give hope and promise to those battling cancer now, to show them they are not alone.The stories may all be different, but they all have a common link that I hope anyone can identify with and benefit from.
To view Carolyn’s blog click here.
