Hello all! Here's a video of me at the opening ceremony for Relay for Life Ramstein in May 2016. Below is a transcript of my speech. Enjoy!
Hello, my name is Cendy Mascrier and I am a cancer survivor.
Before I get started, I would like to thank the Relay for Leben committee for giving me the opportunity to tell my story today. I am honored to be this year’s survivor speaker.
My story starts as many stories do: once upon a time… However, this is not a fairy tale.
It was 2004. I was 22 years old and newly married. I was fairly new in my career field so I had a lot of pressures placed upon me. I had difficulty sleeping so I decided to make an appointment with my doctor. At the appointment, my doctor did her usual checks. Then she felt a lump on my neck. She referred me to an endocrinologist to have the lump checked out. From there, my endo did an ultrasound on my neck and eventually did a biopsy on it. Let me tell you, have a needle going into your neck isn’t a pleasant feeling. I waited 6 weeks for the results and I was told the bump was benign. Let’s fast forward this story, shall we?
It was early 2008 and I was getting my usual ultrasound and biopsy on my neck from my endocrinologist for a “benign” lump. It was a normal checkup and everything seemed fine. However, about a week later, I received a phone call from my endocrinologist that the lump had grown significantly and the results of the biopsy were “inconclusive”. At this point, she wanted to have the lump removed immediately. So I have surgery to remove the left side of my thyroid where the lump was. After several weeks, I received the news that the lump on my thyroid wasn’t benign after all, it was cancer. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
At 25 years old, I was devastated, in pure disbelief and in utter shock. I felt as though the life I had pictured for myself for years was over. I felt as though someone had ripped my heart out and stomped on it. I remember having many thoughts in my head “will I survive this?” “will I have a normal life after this?” “will I ever have children?” and of course “why me?”
After the news, I had to get another surgery to remove the rest of my thyroid and receive radioactive iodine treatment. Although I recovered pretty quickly, I can say that I do not look at 2008 fondly. However, I find it amazing how one phone call changed my life forever.
There is one thing I remember all of the doctors telling me during this time: “if you are going to get a cancer, this is the one to get” or they would say “thyroid cancer is the good cancer” or “thyroid cancer the easy cancer.” I feel it was the doctor’s way of easing my anxiety but it really didn’t help. I don’t know about you all but no cancer is good or easy. Nobody is out there seeking a cancer and none of us asked for it. Every diagnosis of cancer should be taken seriously. One thing they didn’t tell me about thyroid cancer is that I will never be the same person again. I am forever changed.
I participated in my first Relay for Life in 2012. I will always remember walking my first survivor lap in tears. I was so happy to be able to accept the honest truth: I am a cancer survivor. One of the aspects I love about Relay for Life is the caregiver’s lap. I would not be here today if it wasn’t for the love and support of my husband, Greg. He was my caregiver, my rock, my sanity. Whenever I felt sad or when I wanted to give up, Greg was there to lift me up. We took our vows of “in sickness and in health” very seriously. Without him, I would have never gotten this far. Even though they were not there during this time frame, I consider my children, Sebastian and Lucianna, as my caregivers as well. They remind me that some things in life are worth fighting for. They are my light, they are my everything.
I have been in remission for 8 years. Even though the cancer is gone, I still live with the after effects. Since I no longer have a thyroid, I am on medication for the rest of my life. I am constantly having my levels check to make sure my medication is working. Whenever I am having a bad day, I still having the amazing support of my family and friends.
Finally, I would like to thank Relay for Life for giving everyone the opportunity to celebrate, remember, and fight back as we make a difference in the battle against cancer. Whether you’re a newly diagnosed patient, a longtime survivor like myself, a caregiver, or a supporter, please understand we are making a difference by being here today. Let’s have a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
Thank you
