Our guest post today originally appeared on Todd Seals’ blog at Living with Prostate Cancer. Todd has survived Stage 4 prostate cancer for over a decade and shares his story to inspire others. Todd is a musician and his band has played at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life several times. Todd also advocates for UsToo.org, an International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network. Todd says he hangs out at “a few online forums but spend the most of that time at healingwell.com/prostatecancer“.

You can follow Todd on Twitter at @seals_todd.

Todd’s post is about something survivors of all kinds often face…

 Todd’s Story: Survivor’s Guilt

REST IN PEACE JORDAN

Sometimes I think survivors guilt is the wrong terminology. When a group of army buddies are caught in battle and only a couple survive, the guilt that those soldiers feel is real. They come home feeling like they should have died with their buddies on the battlefield.

In my travels and especially due to the fact that I am a musician, I have been able to participate in many cancer benefits. The hardest ones are always the children. Seeing children dying of cancer when they haven’t started living yet is hard. Seeing a young mother in her mid 30s with two small children and stage 4 breast cancer is hard. Telling her to stay positive sounds hollow as she endures treatment after failed treatment. She knows that her children will grow up and she won’t be there to see it. Only the most jaded among us cannot be affected by her bravery! Watching our friends die because no treatment worked for them while we have reaped the benefits of multiple successful treatments is hard.

Tony’s motto is stay positive. Jordan’s motto was live thrive survive and my motto ” live it loud ” are all really positive statements but the fact is that although we want to convey that message of hope and we pray the treatments are successful 50% will fall below the median life extension and 50% will exceed it. A small percentage will exceed it many times over. I do not feel guilty for surviving. I feel righteous anger that others did not. I feel compassion fatigue each time a new guy comes aboard with late stage disease and a poor prognosis. I want to encourage and give hope. Sometimes the results are positive and sometimes not. The higher the Gleason score the harder it becomes to give encouragement. We make friends only to lose them. In the process, a hardening of our hearts occurs. It is a defense mechanism. It is natural. It is necessary.

Yesterday, for me, was a very bad day. I lost a friend I had never met. I felt a kinship with Jordan. Our diagnosis was very similar. We shared the same positive outlook.  We exchanged a few emails. We talked a few times. I believed he would do well. He didn’t and now he is gone. Why??? Why did he fulfill my original prognosis while I have exceeded all expectations? Not Guilt! Just heart wrenching sadness. He, I believe, is in a better place. My tears are for his family and for myself!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8AF6gx8CY0

In society we must give everything a name. In the process we marginalize and cheapen what it really is. It is love and it goes beyond cancer and beyond the grave.

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Thank you, Todd, for sharing your moving story of living through the emotional hurdles of losing others who share your diagnosis. Your story will give strength to others.

If you have a story to share with our readers about participating in a clinical trial, overcoming adversity, or living with a chronic condition, please let us know. We’d love to have you guest blog for us. Guest blogging helps others outside of your disease area learn about your struggles and discover your passions. We will help promote your website and social media accounts, as well as your favorite advocacy group. Contact us to get started sharing your story now!