It is important to understand how physically painful Endometriosis can be. Read this story of a woman's journey through cancer and later on Endometriosis.
In the below excerpt, Nicole describes how she went through cancer, chemo etc. and won the battle. Years later, she started suffering from debilitating pain and was later diagnosed with Endometriosis. In her story, she describes how lonely and misunderstood you are as a Endometriosis patient, but naturally and deservedly so get sympathy and are seen as a warrior going through cancer. She also describes how more painful it has been to go through Endometriosis pain.
I would never state that Endometriosis is WORSE than cancer, nor does she; however, her personal story is vital to understanding the importance of getting awareness out on this disease. Too many women are seen as wimps who suffer from the debilitating pain it can cause and not understood by the medical community or people around us.
Titled "My Period Is More Painful Than Cancer"
A small excerpt from her story:
"Fast forward six years. I was in the hospital, yet again, unable to move from extreme nausea and debilitating pain. The agony I felt was torturous — the violent stabbing, the feeling of metal nails scratching my insides, an intense and frequent vomiting.
I felt alone, in the dark. It was as if my body had turned on me, and now my mind was threatening to do the same. I lost my dignity and felt ashamed as everyone watched me writhing in pain: pain, I should add, that was not from the cancer, but from the with which I had only recently been diagnosed.
After dealing with cancer, I wasn't prepared to deal with the difficulty of another illness. And yet having two illnesses opened my mind, tremendously, to the vast difference between how one is treated, depending on the diagnosis. With cancer, a patient’s feelings of pain and depression are completely validated and viewed as being a normal and appropriate byproduct of the disease. Those who suffer from cancer are looked upon as strong, warrior-like in their coping abilities.
With cancer, there is no need to justify using pain medication; everyone knows how agonizing and severe cancer is. There are hundreds upon hundreds of support groups for cancer, as well as a plethora of resources and books. When I had cancer, I wore my bald head as a badge of pride, and while people might have stared at me in the streets, the majority of them understood that I had cancer, and they admired my ability to go about my day. Having cancer caused my doctors, nurses, family members, and friends to want to do everything they could to make me happy and comfortable. After all, I was suffering from a well-known disease that was infamous for its symptoms. No one can dispute how horrible cancer is.
I remember being invited to a cancer gala where they called my name with other cancer patients, asking us to rise. We stood there awkwardly, while the whole room clapped for what seemed like forever, congratulating us on our courage and bravery, calling us survivors.
I often find myself wondering if that will ever happen for women with Endometriosis. Will anyone ever ask us to stand up? Clap for our bravery? Will we ever be commended for fighting a brave war against this horrible disease? And even if they did, would I want to stand up?"
-Nicole Malachi
To read the full story:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/my-health-story/my-period-is-more-painful-than-cancer/
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