NAVIGATING THE FIRST 30 DAYS
The Power of Journaling
When I first heard the words “You have cancer,” my world stopped, and then strangely, it began again. I did not know where to put all the fear, confusion, anger, and hope that came flooding in. So, I picked up a pen.
Journaling became my lifeline. It helped me process the shock, find strength, laugh through tears, and rediscover who I was beyond the diagnosis. This guide shares how writing helped me, and how it can help you too.
You do not need to be a writer. You only need to show up, honestly.
Part 1
Why Journaling Works When Nothing Else Makes Sense
When your life changes overnight, words can be the bridge between the chaos and calm. Writing helps you slow your thoughts, name your fears, and recognize your courage in real time.
Journaling is not about documenting what happensl it is about understanding it. It is how I learned to say "This is hard, but I am still here."
Journaling Tip
Write when you feel the most tangled inside. Do not edit. Let the words fall out. Start with "I feel…" and see where it takes you.
Part 2
My First Entries: From Panic to Purpose
Here's how it began for me. My first pages were messy, scared, and unfiltered. That is the point. Healing starts in the raw.
Jan 29, 2023
"Oh boy I am having pooping problems… bright red blood in my stools. It is probably because I eat so much fiber… I think I need to get a colonoscopy."
Just an ordinary day turned extraordinary. That one note, a simple and matter-of-fact entry, marked the beginning of a new chapter I did not see coming.
Five months later, my journal held this:
May 4, 2023
"Today I was told I had colorectal cancer. I felt shock, but also calm, like everything was going to be all right. I dreamed that my purse was stolen, and I knew I was about to lose so much, but I would get it all back in a new way."
That dream became my compass. I realized that journaling was not only for recording fear; it was for transforming it into faith.
Part 3
Turning Fear Into Focus
When treatment began, journaling became part confession, part pep talk, part spiritual armor.
May 5, 2023
“I told my body, I love you, cells. I will take care of you. I will not fight cancer. This is not a battle but a journey of sending it love.”
Writing reminded me I was not powerless. It helped me reframe my story. Not “I am fighting for my life,” but “I am caring for it.”
When things got hard, humor often saved me:
July 27, 2023
“Had to pooh walking down the street in my dress after radiation. I froze, and it happened. A big hot pooh! I wanted to cry, but I laughed instead. It is better to laugh than cry.”
Sometimes laughter was my therapy. Writing about those absurd, human moments helped me release shame and find joy again.
Part 4
Prompts to Get You Started
If you are ready to begin journaling through your own healing, try these:
Today my biggest emotion is ________.
What scares me most right now?
What gives me strength when I feel weak?
What I would tell my body if it could listen?
What lesson might this challenge be teaching me?
What can I celebrate today, no matter how small?
There are no rules. Some days you will write one line; other days you will pour your heart out. Either way, you are moving forward.
Part 5
My Takeaway: Healing One Page at a Time
Oct 30, 2023
“Dear tumor cells, you do not belong here. My cleanup crew is on board. You can leave any time. And thank you.”
That last line says everything. Gratitude, courage, and humor. That is what journaling gave me.Your story does not have to look like mine. But if you give yourself permission to write, you will find a quiet strength that carries you through anything.
Healing does not only happen in hospitals. Sometimes, it happens between you, your pen, and the truth.
Bonus Tips
Keep it simple. Write on your phone, a scrap of paper, or a fancy notebook.
Write daily if you can. Even three minutes can reset your mind.
Do not censor yourself. Tears, anger, humor, all of it belongs on the page.
Revisit old entries to see how far you have come.
Closing thoughts
If journaling feels small, remember that it kept me grounded through cancer, surgery, and learning to live with a colostomy.
It helped me see not what I lost, but what I gained: clarity, resilience, and the power to live out loud.
Now it is your turn. Pick up the pen. Begin.
You have got this.
— Jane, The Colostomy Queen