Elizabeth Awo-Ejeh, Breast Cancer Survivor and Advocate, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“I AM A CANCER SURVIVOR
People define survival in different ways.
For some, it means the end of treatment.
For some, it means remission.
For some, it means being ‘cancer-free.’
But for me… survival began the day I chose to fight.
I remember the moment I got the diagnosis.
I remember staring at that report, trying to understand what it meant for my life, my future, and my dreams.
I remember how heavy the words felt.
How unreal everything seemed.
How long it took for my heart to catch up with what my ears had heard.
And then one day, something shifted.
I made a decision.
Not because I was fearless.
Not because I was strong yet.
But because I wanted to live.
That was the day I became a survivor.
Not when the pain ended.
Not when the treatments were over.
Not when everything looked okay again.
But the moment I said:
‘I will fight for myself.’
Being a survivor does not mean you never cry.
It does not mean you are never scared.
It does not mean the journey is easy.
Being a survivor means: You faced something that could have broken you… and you stood up anyway.
You woke up on days you didn’t feel like it… and you kept going anyway.
You chose hope even when fear was loud.
You chose life even when the road was uncertain.
Some people say,
‘How can I call myself a survivor when I’m still in treatment?’
‘How can I call myself a survivor when I’m still struggling?’
‘How can I call myself a survivor when I don’t feel strong?’
But listen to me…..
If you are still here, you are a survivor.
If you are still breathing, you are a survivor.
If you are still choosing to show up for yourself, even in pain, you are a survivor.
Survival is not only about the finish line.
Survival is about the courage to stay in the race.
You survived the diagnosis.
You survived the shock.
You survived the fear.
You survived the nights of tears.
You survived the days when your body felt like it had betrayed you.
You survived moments you never imagined you would face.
And you are still standing.
That makes you a survivor.
To every warrior reading this:
You are not weak because you are tired.
You are not less because you are still healing.
You are not behind because your journey looks different.
Your survival is not measured by perfection.
It is measured by persistence.
And if all you did today was wake up and try…
That is survival.
That is courage.
That is strength.
So I say it boldly.
I say it proudly.
I say it for myself and for you:
I am a survivor.
Not because the battle was easy…
But because I chose to fight.
And so are you.”
More posts featuring Elizabeth Awo-Ejeh.