Awareness Matters: Stories Behind The Ribbon
Every ribbon tells a story. A family. A diagnosis. A battle fought in silence. A life either forever changed, or cut short.
August 1st marks two often overlooked observances in the cancer community: Appendix Cancer Awareness Month and World Lung Cancer Day. While these diagnoses may not make headlines the way others do, the lives impacted by them matter just as deeply.
Today, I want to shine a light on the stories behind these ribbons and why awareness isn’t just about color, but compassion, advocacy, and action.
Why Awareness Still Matters
When my husband was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer, I quicklylearned how little people understood about the disease. I became not only his caregiver, but also his advocate, fighting for answers, treatments, support, and dignity. That’s why awareness days like today are critical.
Appendix Cancer is rare, often misdiagnosed, and underfunded. Lung Cancer whole more known, is still heavily stigmatized. People often assume it’s tied to smoking alone, but many who are diagnosed never smoked a day in their life. Cancer doesn’t ask about your lifestyle. It just arrives and rearranges everything.
Honoring The Journey Of The One You Love
My husband’s fight with colorectal cancer wasn’t just about hospital visits and chemo ports, it was about resilience, quiet bravery, and love in the face of uncertainty. And while his cancer isn’t represented by today’s ribbon, I honor him everytime I share what we went through. Because every story shared is a step towards understanding.
Awareness is about all of us. It’s about creating space for the rare, the misunderstood, and the often-forgotten. It’s about saying: Your pain matters. Your story matters. Your person matters.
How You Can Support Families Facing A Cancer Diagnosis
You don’t have to be a medical professional to make a difference. Here are simple yet powerful ways to support someone navigating a diagnosis:
Check in regularly. Even a “thinking of you” text can make a heavy day feel lighter.
Offer specific help. Instead of saying “let me know if you need anything,” try: “I’m dropping off dinner Tuesday, does that work?” Because if they’re anything like me, they’ll never “let you know”.
Respect their privacy and boundaries. Some days they might want to talk. Some days they won’t. It’s not personal, but grief comes in waves and if they’re anything like me, trying to manage those emotions and still be present for everyone else is extremely hard.
Remember them after the crisis. Support doesn’t stop after treatment ends or after loss.
Advocacy Tools You Can Use
If you’re looking to turn your empathy into action, here are a few ways to advocate:
Wear the ribbon. Gold for childhood cancer, white for lung cancer, and yellow for appendix cancer.
Share personal stories. On social media, blogs, or even small circles, awareness grows with storytelling.
Join local or virtual awareness walks/runs.
Write to your representatives. Ask for increased cancer research funding and support for caregivers.
A Final Word From The Heart
To those walking through diagnosis, treatment, caregiving, or grief, I see you. Whether your ribbon is one people know or one you have to explain every time, you are not invisible.
To my late husband, thank you for showing me what strength looks like in its gentlest form. You made me an advocate. You made me brave.
May we keep telling the stories behind the ribbon, because awareness doesn’t just matter. It saves lives.
With Love,
La 💙
