5. If you do not smoke, eat healthily, watch your weight, exercise regularly – I sound like your doctor – it does not mean you will not get sick, it does not mean you will not get old. One day we all die but it means you will have a healthier, happier life and you will be in a better position to fight whatever illness comes your way, cancer or even many other illnesses.
6. So I think lifestyles and other personal choices are also important in fighting cancer. But the third thing which counts a lot in fighting cancer is family and community support. This evening I met with some cancer survivors. They have been through a difficult journey. It has affected them but not only them but also their loved ones. If you make the journey alone, it can be a frightening experience but with support from family and from the SCS, that made a big difference to these survivors and should make a big difference to many more. Not just to your morale and confidence but also to the medical outcomes because if you feel better, you exercise more, you take care of yourself better, I think you improve your odds. So I asked one of them, “Are you all right?” He said, “As long as I am standing here, I am OK.” I think that is the spirit. What is most inspiring of them all is not just that they are still standing there but that they want to give back having gone through the experience themselves. They want to give back and they want to help other cancer patients on their journey.
