Honest Words: A Young Person’S Story and Guide to Cancer Survivorship

By Liza Ngenye

What are your memories of being a twenty-one-year-old? Some were in university, starting a job, in a relationship, moving away from home, enjoying the freedom of young adulthood, or figuring out the purpose of life. When I was twenty-one, I was fighting cancer. And now, a few years into survivorship, I am obliged to have many friends like youwhose futures will be forever changed by cancerlooking for honest words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512722581

Liza Ngenye

Liza Ngenye is a lecturer at a university in Nairobi, Kenya. She has an undergraduate degree from Union College in Nebraska and a masters degree from the George Washington University in Washington, DC, USA. At the age of twenty-one she was diagnosed with cancer and now, years later, enjoys remission. Liza is an avid humanitarian and passionate about young people. She is a quintilingual flutist whose hobbies include traveling and influencing the world through social media. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @lizangenye. To contact her by email: [e-mail].

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Copyright © 2015 Liza Ngenye.

Cover image by Stephen Nazario, Union College, ucollege.edu. © 2015

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-2259-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2260-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2258-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015920119

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/14/2015

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1   Forever Twenty−One

Chapter 2   Acceptance, Guilt, and Shame

Chapter 3   Telling Others

Chapter 4   How to Talk to Someone with Cancer

Chapter 5   Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Chapter 6   Chemo Is a Way of Life

Chapter 7   Poem

Chapter 8   Man and Machine

Chapter 9   Money

Chapter 10 Bald Beauty

Chapter 11 Death and Love

Chapter 12 Poem

Chapter 13 Survival

To all cancer victims and survivors around the world who choose to remain silent. May this book encourage you to share your stories. Together, let our stories shine hope like the millions of stars in the sky.

Preface

A few months ago I got a Facebook message from a friend: Dear Liza, I just found out I have cancer. How do I get through this? At that moment, it was apparent that my experience, once shared, would give hope and healing to many whose future would be forever changed by cancer.

At the age of twenty-one, I was diagnosed with cancer. And now, a few years into survivorship, I owe a debt of gratitude to many friends out there, like you, looking for honest words. That’s the title of this book: Honest Words. During my journey, I drew most strength from strangers who were honest about my reality. The greatest philosopher King Solomon agreed: An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. My hope is that these honest words will be much-needed encouragement for your turbulent soul.

Take a moment. Erase all your preconceived notions, myths, and misinformation, and begin with a clean slate. Allow this book to be a manual to help navigate through the uncharted territory of your mortality. Be afraid if you have to be, cry if you feel you need to cry, and laugh if you want to laugh. Be free to go through all emotions that remind you that you are human. These are my honest words—no pretense, political correctness, or hypocrisy. This is the good, bad, and beautiful. Honest words—my gift to you.

Promise me one thing: remember you are not alone. Right at this moment, millions of people are going through the same journey. You are in a community of survivors in a collective battle against defeat. And many more are waiting, with arms and hearts wide open to envelop you with encouragement. More important, there is an angelic host, led by the Creator, holding your hand every step of the way.

Is there hope? Of course. Hope is always present. But without hope, there is no faith—hope and faith are an inseparable power—and without faith, no life is worth living. Take my hope, my faith, my courage, and my strength—all those things you may feel you lack. Let it be yours, and remember, one day, to do the same for others.

Be prepared for the biggest fight of your life.

Love,

Liza

Acknowledgments

Recognition goes to Union College in Nebraska, The George