World Smile Day is a special day celebrated all around the world to remind us of the simple yet powerful act of smiling. Observed annually on the first Friday of October, this heartwarming day encourages people around the world to share smiles, kindness, and positivity.
Created by Harvey Ball, the artist who designed the iconic yellow smiley face in 1963, World Smile Day reminds us of the profound impact a smile can have on everyone. A smile is a universal language that everyone can understand, no matter where they’re from. They bring people closer together, fostering happiness and goodwill across cultures and communities.
On World Smile Day, people are encouraged to engage in acts of kindness and philanthropy. It’s all about making the world a brighter and happier place, one smile at a time.
Did you know that being positive has many benefits? A positive attitude can help us cope with emotional distress and reduce feelings of fear, anxiety and depression. Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, so positivity can significantly benefit a cancer patient’s overall health and well-being. Maintaining a positive attitude can even help treatment plans, improve quality of life, and positively impact pain management. Pretty cool, don’t you think?
But, staying positive doesn’t mean ignoring or denying the tough challenges of cancer. It means facing challenges with resilience, hope, and a constructive mindset. Let’s hear from Mary Lynn about some of the things that have kept her feeling hopeful and strong throughout her treatment journey.
Meet Mary Lynn
When I was first diagnosed with melanoma the shock was almost paralyzing. One of the first things I did was research this type of cancer, and the information I found was devastating. What could I do with that information?
As I came in contact with different medical people, I mentally added them to my care team. My partner and family have always been my biggest supporters and have seen me through 12 months of immunotherapy treatments, complicated by my allergic reaction to Nivolumab. So…where is the hope here?
My hope lies in the care and concern that my team shows when the side effects are so bad that I cannot walk a straight line or eat. It lies in the way my team rallies around as the nurses in the chemo lab and my oncologist work hard to find a way that the treatments can continue. They continue to closely monitor me every time I am there for treatment. They do this because they know this drug is the gold standard of treatment that I deserve. When I have all this, I know I can make it through, and have the very best chance of beating this cancer.
There is no question that many years ago, a cure for this type of cancer was almost impossible. Thankfully, that is not the case now. Hope is knowing that I will be with my family for future celebrations, and I will see my grandchildren grow up.
