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I Was Diagnosed With Cancer, So I Started Drawing Comics To Combat The Terrible Misconceptions About Cancer
I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2014, which included chemotherapy, radiation, multiple surgeries and an ostomy bag. This happened while working full time as a therapist and being married with a small child. I'm currently cancer free, but the experience was a complete life-changer.
To cope with the process, I started drawing up a comic while recovering from my first surgery in the hospital. I drew a cute little owl and Cancer Owl was born. I attempted to articulate what was so hard to articulate in the cancer experience: how it feels to have chemotherapy and radiation, working while in treatment, the emotional highs and lows, combatting the terrible misconceptions about cancer, and dealing with others who (sometimes poorly) attempt to deal with you while going through treatment. I also stuck with drawing animals only, and using bright colors and fun fonts.
Long story short: this resonated with people. Especially those going through the cancer experience. I get messages and emails almost every day, and people started sharing their stories. I've had many people tell me it got through a rough patch or it was the first time they smiled in months. Now that I've told my story through many comics, I devote most of my comics to telling other people's stories. I believe that the more people share their stories, the more we lessen the stigma and help anyone dealing with this damned disease to not feel so alone.
More info: cancerowl.com
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What do you think ?
Cassie 7 years ago
When I was a kid, my mom had osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in her leg and her leg was amputated, but they didn't get it all and the cancer metastasized to her lungs. She had to have chemo, lost her hair, and was often weak and tired. At one point, she was strong enough to be out with me and my dad, but not strong enough to be on her crutches or use her wooden leg. We were at the Fair Oaks mall in Virginia, my dad pushing her in her wheelchair, when a woman and a little girl walked by. The little girl smiled at my mom and waved, but the mom freaked. She started screaming at us for being horrible people and snatched up her child and ran away still screaming insults at my parents. I think she thought my mom was contagious. It was bizarre.
A.S. Galston 7 years ago
My mom passed away from a 3+ year fight against ovarian cancer almost 5 years ago. These comics are so true. People can be great to cancer patients...but they can also suck. A lot. One "friend" of my mom's didn't see her while she was on chemo but when she'd go into remission she would come around. A month before my mom died my mom called this "friend" hoping to see her since it had been a long time. The "friend" told her that it just was "too sad" for her to be around my mom since she was dying. It broke my mom's heart. At my mom's funeral guess who was the first person up to talk about how great my mom was and what great friends they were? Yup. It was her.
Daria B 7 years ago
She thought she would clean her hands off guilt. Understandable, but not acceptable.
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Iris Omri-Engler 7 years ago
I guess you found a good way to deal with your cancer Matthew. A good dash of humor inside but sometimes also painful accurate to the real life. I wish you all the best.
Cassie 7 years ago
When I was a kid, my mom had osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in her leg and her leg was amputated, but they didn't get it all and the cancer metastasized to her lungs. She had to have chemo, lost her hair, and was often weak and tired. At one point, she was strong enough to be out with me and my dad, but not strong enough to be on her crutches or use her wooden leg. We were at the Fair Oaks mall in Virginia, my dad pushing her in her wheelchair, when a woman and a little girl walked by. The little girl smiled at my mom and waved, but the mom freaked. She started screaming at us for being horrible people and snatched up her child and ran away still screaming insults at my parents. I think she thought my mom was contagious. It was bizarre.
A.S. Galston 7 years ago
My mom passed away from a 3+ year fight against ovarian cancer almost 5 years ago. These comics are so true. People can be great to cancer patients...but they can also suck. A lot. One "friend" of my mom's didn't see her while she was on chemo but when she'd go into remission she would come around. A month before my mom died my mom called this "friend" hoping to see her since it had been a long time. The "friend" told her that it just was "too sad" for her to be around my mom since she was dying. It broke my mom's heart. At my mom's funeral guess who was the first person up to talk about how great my mom was and what great friends they were? Yup. It was her.
Daria B 7 years ago
She thought she would clean her hands off guilt. Understandable, but not acceptable.
Load More Replies... Iris Omri-Engler 7 years ago
I guess you found a good way to deal with your cancer Matthew. A good dash of humor inside but sometimes also painful accurate to the real life. I wish you all the best.
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