Despite the advances they have made in cancer treatment over the last 20 years, many survivors suffer physical changes that can be devastating.

Last week I was helping host a community night at my church, and I met a person that is having a hard time adjusting to surgery.

I do not want to expose the details for privacy, but it broke my heart to hear how afraid this person was to leave the house.

"I am ashamed of the body I have now," they said. "Every time I look in the mirror, I want to cry." The changes this person went through cost them their marriage. Like I said in Thursday's blog post, you find out who your real friends are when you push their comfort level.

Imagine the pain one feels when their spouse rejects them due to something they had no control over. Fighting cancer is hard enough without someone denying you because you don't meet their level of attraction anymore. It’s hard to imagine someone choosing to be that vile, but we do live in a shallow world.

Having spoken to current patients and survivors, the physical changes cancer can cause are a big concern. In my own life, I had to adjust to losing my athletic ability along with "other" material changes that made me afraid no one would ever love me again. My scars eventually lead me to tell my story of survival. Despite the pain and many challenges my life now features, I hope my scars can inspire others.