Thirty-year-old Clara Mae Cirk is a stage 4 lung most cancers affected person who makes use of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to amplify her voice and lift consciousness about affected person advocacy. She additionally goals to supply a secure and sincere area for like-minded sufferers to attach and ask questions.
I wish to get actually concerned in [this] stuff, and I am discovering that doing all that’s extra of my true objective in life. I discovered it to be actually fulfilling to speak about my story and assist others, she emphasised in an interview with CURE.
Throughout the interview, Clara mentioned her expertise as a youthful grownup recognized with lung most cancers, highlighted her advocacy efforts on social media, and defined what impressed her to begin sharing her journey so overtly. In one other video, she additionally addressed why the phrase ‘survivor’ doesn’t resonate together with her.
You’ll be able to comply with Clara and her journey on TikTok and Instagram @C_Cirks. On these platforms, she overtly solutions questions on her analysis and therapy, shares updates on her situation, and creates a secure area for others with most cancers to have an sincere dialogue about their illness.
Transcript
Your “Questions with Clara” sequence on social media have resonated with so many. What impressed you to begin sharing your most cancers journey so overtly on social media?
I’ve all the time carried out this foolish factor on my non-public Instagram story of speaking to my followers and pretending I am an influencer. I began doing it a very long time in the past and simply stored it to my shut pals checklist on Instagram. It was only a means for me to dump my emotions out, and it was very therapeutic for me simply to sit down on digicam and discuss stuff.
When this all occurred, I assumed, “What higher method to course of every thing than to simply document myself and discuss stuff?” I received sort of uninterested in explaining every thing to my family and friends, so I feel it was simply an academic means for me to say, “Hey, watch this video if you wish to know what my therapy is correct now, or what a part of the method I am in.” It was a a lot simpler method to simply ship a hyperlink and clarify issues slightly than retyping the identical factor again and again. So, yeah, I feel that is the place it got here from.
I additionally really feel like I observed lots of people, as soon as I used to be recognized, began connecting with me on social media. I observed they have been posting movies about their journey, and that actually impressed me as a result of I needed to speak about my story and the way that is totally different or the identical or no matter. I noticed all these individuals going to those conferences and stuff, and I actually wish to do stuff like that, like public talking engagements and totally different occasions and advocacy.
I feel that is what motivated me to begin the sequence, too, as a result of I wish to get actually concerned in stuff. I am simply discovering that doing all that’s extra of my true objective in life. I discovered it to be actually fulfilling to speak about my story and assist others.
This piece displays the writer’s private expertise and perspective. For medical recommendation, please seek the advice of your well being care supplier.
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