#1 - Everybody likes a little extra attention

I'll never forget the day I walked into what would become the first of thousands of doctor's appointments. I was sixteen and still seeing a pediatrician. We had decided to go because I had been so tired (#2 reason to cheer up coming soon). My mom took me in and we sat in the waiting room with three nursing mothers, a couple of crying babies, and toddlers fighting over who was gonna play with the wire kids toy loaded with rings (I won that fight by the way).
My mom and I were laughing at the fact that I was the oldest patient in the room. I was hoping for a sticker if I was good and she insisted that if I got scared I could sit on her lap. At that point we had no idea there was really anything to fear.
When we were finally called back to the exam room we realized something was up. A nurse came in to do the precursory screening that they always do. It so routine that she didn't even look at me when she first came in. She kept her eyes to her clip board as she rattled off question after question. Finally as she got ready to take my blood pressure she lifted her head and looked at me.
The nurse's mouth dropped open as if I had taken over the exam and asked her to say awe. Her hand raised like a women in a trance and with her index finger pointed at me she said, "You're here for your neck aren't you."

I hadn't mentioned this before. My neck was huge. I mean it was thick. 16 inches in diameter to be exact. The reason I didn't mention it is because I proud. Proud of the fact that I had been working out for football season that year and had been developing every muscle in my body. I figured the reason it was so large was because of my intense dedication and loyalty to my craft. Okay that's a little extreme. I worked out 1 hour three days a week but I was a teenager so you get the picture.

Without giving us a chance to answer, the nurse was out of the room to get a doctor. Within a minute she had him back in the room. After a little bit of poking he admitted he had never seen anything like this (I was so proud at what my workouts had accomplished). He called for another doctor who was also shocked. They called for the last doctor and within five minutes I had three doctors and a nurse talking about, looking at, and poking me and my neck.
Two things happened that day. First I was sent off to the main hospital for lots of tests. Boring. Secondly and most important, I realized the first reason to Cheer Up, you've got cancer.
Everybody wants a little attention and if you've got cancer you know this to be the case. You're gonna get it from everywhere. Don't shun it. Embrace it. Let the eyes fall upon you with amazement as you walk into the grocery store tubes sticking out from your shunt. Let them notice your shiny bald head as the sun blinds them while you walk down the beach. Mostly enjoy the fact that your doctor will finally stop looking at their clipboard and start listening to you and your questions. People everywhere want to be noticed and believe me, you will be.