Dear Cancer,

The first thing I want to say is that I absolutely hate you. And I am not one to say I hate a lot of things. There are some things that I dislike, but very few things that I have pure hatred for, and you are one of them.

Never in my life have I seen something or someone as selfish as you. All you do is take and take and take. You have debilitated so many people through chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and the daily pain you cause. You prevent people from being able to get out of bed. People cannot play with their kids because of you. Children miss out on their childhood because of you.

Life is the most precious thing we have and it pains me to say that you prevent people from seeing the beauty in it. And unfortunately for some, you take it from them all together.

You tear families apart financially and put strains on marriages. You make kids watch their heroes suffer and parents watch their children, who should be outside on a playground, lay there drained of energy in a hospital bed.

You have caused more pain and suffering than I ever thought possible. And personally, you have taken everything from me.

However, you do not realize that in all of your selfishness, people have found hope and faith when they thought all was lost. You have unified millions in the fight against you. Families and friends have grown closer while fighting this battle. People have found happiness in the little things in life and learned to value what is truly important.

Even though we have lost so many to you, they will live on with us forever through memories and the hope and tools they have provided us with.

Newsflash cancer, the human race is a species of fighters. We will not take no for an answer and will do anything we can to make this world a better place for ourselves. We will become activists, raise money, perform research, and become doctors. We will be caregivers, friends, and form support systems. We will not rest until we find a cure for you and prevent you from causing any more pain than you already have. We will do everything possible to eradicate you from this planet because we want to see a better future for ourselves; a future without you in it.

Just know that all of the lives you have taken and suffering you have caused are not enough to kill the human spirit and its persistence to fight. We will not let you win.

Sincerely,

A World Full of Fighters