We Can Talk About Cancer

There's nothing good about getting cancer. It helps start conversations though. And after you've said "I've got cancer" saying pretty much anything else is a lot easier.

I 'met' Duncan Riley of TechCrunch in a virtual sense a couple years ago - I think it was through LinkedIn bloggers though I can't swear to that. I've always thought he was down to earth & easy to interact with.

He wrote about the frozen pea fund and observed that Twitter has created new relationships and taken social networking to new levels. And he's right. It's because of twitter that Duncan knows I'm a night owl because I'm up at odd hours for a US East-coaster & we've tweeted about children and all sort of odd things in the wee hours of my day. It has let us communicate on a new level. I wasn't  so surprised that he was writing about my breast cancer, but appreciated the shot in the arm he gave the pea-fund my friends had so generously started.

Almost diametrically opposite from Duncan in how we met is Cliff Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answer Man He's a direct from twitter friend of a friend and a very new twitter friend.  So I was astounded when he did a podcast about New Media Peas and Boobs on Ice. And I don't even think it was so he could use the word *boobs* in his show title.

Casual acquaintances started tweeting and blogging about cancer. Loic Lemeur added Peas to his avatar. Frozen peas became a topic of the day for Mark Harrison and countless others who stepped up to promote breast cancer awareness.

Then come people I have no connection with at all.

Blogger and Podcaster magazine picked up the story Friday and twitter covered the change to pea avatars as well. I don't know the people there, or don't know that I know them if I do. So it's doubly nice that they'd chose to write about this. 

Katherine Druckman webmistress at LinuxJournal.com pointed to frozen pea Friday as illustrating the "age of information" at its best. IJustine blogged about frozen peas too.

But it's not all about peas. A lot of people are sending direct messages and commenting on my blog. Those kind of personal messages are surely special. I'm sure that there are others that I'm just too overwhelmed to see. People are sharing their feelings and fears and hopes with me, and I'm so appreciative for this kind of interaction. It's honestly what I believe will bring me through the long stretches of hard times.

Meanwhile back to what we're saying about peas and cancer. Dave Winer included an image of a package of peas in Scripting News, with a link to my blog, but apparently couldn't figure what to say about the whole thing.

I can see how that would happen even before I started with the boobs on ice thing.

Comments

[Dr.Mani]

Susan, having enjoyed the power of social networks in spreading word about something I care about passionately - helping children born with congenital heart defects - http://www.chdinfo.com/mission/ - I have a fair idea about how this works... and also that it goes far, far beyond the individual.

It's the MESSAGE.

That's what gets 'buy in'. Not the peas. Not your story. At least, not primarily. It's the thought that by sharing in the awareness effort, people are indirectly helping save millions of lives touched by cancer, probably generating awareness and funding for cancer cure research, and making the world a better place.

Sure, everyone feels a certain empathy and bond with you - but the viral nature of the spread of such a message across networks is rarely linked to one person or one story... more the thought that flits subliminally through every mind - It might have been me!

It is fascinating and heartening to hear just how far and wide your awareness building effort has spread, and it will certainly have a long lasting and meaningful impact. I wish you strength and health to not only fight the menace of breast cancer, but to also capitalize on the momentum you have built with the 'Peas Movement' and create a lasting, definitive and sustainable effort to fight cancer and help other sufferers.

You continue to be in my prayers.

All success
Dr.Mani

[Beth (AKA Splashgirl)]

I don’t talk about ‘it’ and glare at anyone who brings it up. I went in for 2nd surgery on Friday and broke down crying. Not for the reason you’d think. Every woman in the women’s center was in their 60’s/70’s. Why was I here? I didn’t fit in and I was angry/sad I was there.
I applaud you w/ your Twitter and your blog for getting it out there that we have to do more for Cancer/Research. Neither you nor I want to be a member of this club but you are making a difference. Until I can deal, I’ll hide behind that big rock in the corner, and follow your writings.

[ChazFrench]

Susan you are an inspiration to so many people (and PEAple). You are giving hope to others who are battling breast cancer, and inspiring many of us to raise money for research.

Charles

[B.L Ochman]

Susan - your writing is so clear and you are helping so many pea-ple by sharing your experience.

Now we need you to get better and kick cancer's nasty ass.

Peas on earth
xo
BL