Mailet Lopez, Founder of the I Had Cancer website tells her inspirational story of breast cancer survival. Motivation and positivity drove her to create and launch a website that is focused on connecting cancer victims, family members and supporters alike to others encountering the same circumstances. The website uses the premise of social networking to its advantage, connecting those individuals and bringing together a community of hope and head on battle against this disease.
I had the opportunity to catch up with Mailet and speak with her personally about her experience and how her website all began.
What was the first thing that went through your mind when you learned that you had cancer? How did you find out?
I was diagnosed in 2008. I originally went to my gynecologist because of a lump that I had felt. She said to me, "Maybe it’s nothing, but let’s get it checked out anyway to be sure." So I did.
I actually wound up finding out while I was on vacation in Florida. The guy that originally did the biopsy wasn’t even the one that called me. It was my general doctor that called to tell me. He wanted to check in on me and see how I was doing.
It’s not the kind of news that you expect to hear. No matter how much you think that there is a chance that it could be, it doesn’t feel real. We all started crying of course. But I said: "We need to go to the beach and have fun. That’s what we are here for." There really was nothing else that could be done but to go back home and do treatments and whatever was necessary to fight against it. Being positive not only helped me but it helped my family also. I was giving them hope as well
What kind of cancer did you have?
I was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 2B.
How were you able to keep a positive spirit and mind through all of this? What and who inspired you to cope and keep pushing forward? I’m sure there are days that were harder than others.
I looked at life and it was just an attitude that I had and it helped everyone around me to have the same kind of attitude. My parents are really great. The first thing they said to me was "Whatever you need, we’re here."
My mom offered to shave her head. They always encouraged me. That probably helped. Everyone around me was extremely supportive of my situation. My business partner, Anthony, took everything on so that I didn’t have to worry about work. It allowed me to focus on myself. I read different books including “ The Secret ” that everyone was talking about.
I’ve always been a really positive person though. Even all throughout high school people said there didn’t seem to be anything that could get me down. Taking on that same kind of positive attitude when approaching conquering cancer helped through the entire thing and it helped me to maintain. I feel like everything happens for a reason. My getting cancer helped me to be able to help people through my company.
When did you start the website I Had Cancer and why? What made you choose that name for the site?
I started the website a year after my diagnosis. I had a great support network but I was concerned about the people that didn’t. They are just alone and don’t have any family, or someone just doesn’t really understand what they are going through. Even my parents couldn’t completely understand what I was going through at the time. We wanted to take the best out of social media and put it into a network where people could connect to each other and help each other out.
We used Facebook as a template for what to do. Being told that I could die, I had to turn the attitude back at people. Even when I was going through treatments, I had to be positive and I was telling people I had cancer. Not have, but had. It’s about looking at it as hope. At some point you’re going to be able to say that you had it, not have. That’s the light at the end of the tunnel.
What’s sad is that we have been talking to some of the big television networks and one of the things that we hear is that cancer is such a downer. We understand no matter how positive you are, you can still die. There are people that thank cancer for giving them new hope and an ability to appreciate life and appreciate the small things. It’s all about the attitude.
Do you feel like having cancer changed you personally? How?
Yes, definitely! Before when I would ask for things when I was praying it was simple, like what I wanted or material things. Once cancer came around, the one thing that I always asked for was simply health and happiness. As long as you have health, it gives u the ability to do the things you want. As long as you have happiness, you will be able to motivate others and fulfill your life. I am a lot wiser and stronger now.
What is the most positive thing that you have experienced after starting the website in dealing and engaging with people?
I would have to say that the most positive part of all of this is getting emails from people saying that they are so happy that they discovered the site and how much it is something that they really need. There are people that are connecting to other people that have no support and now they are getting it. To know we can touch someone so profoundly really brings tears to my eyes.
What advice would you give to those that receive devastating news about their health, such as cancer?
Well, I think that people can get a little annoyed by hearing people tell them to be positive all the time. That’s not the first thing that goes through your mind. What I would suggest is to come to the site and connect with someone who has been in the same shoes. We are giving you the ability to link with someone by gender, geography, type of cancer- our searches are really designed to be as cylindered as possible to match your situation.
You can see the huge amount of people that are on the site as survivors. Come to the site and check it out. Connect with someone and I know that staying positive is hard to hear, but I feel that it’s really true and really helps. If you are nothing but depressed, then that is what you are going to put out and that’s the kind of energy that you are going to be surrounded by. No matter what, there will be a positive spin that can be put on your situation. That is what truly matters. Enjoy the people you love and your family and focus on the people that you love.
I can recall when I was on the cancer network station for young adults 19-40. On the phone was this woman named Jolene and she really represents positive thinking. She is excited about the urn that she just purchased and setting up everything that she needs for her funeral. Her inspiration is bubbly and you really want to help her to do all of those things that she has on her bucket list. Even though she knows that her time is limited, she is living her life to the fullest. That is truly inspiring.
Nowadays, doctors really don’t get to spend much time with you to be able to comfort you as much as they should be able to. Hopefully, people will really see the benefit of our website and it will help to pick up the momentum of the site. In terms of this year alone, 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer. That number doesn’t go lower. So you have these people and these survivors speaking to and supporting one another. If you are going through the same issues, come share your story and help someone that is going through it now as well. It is also a great resource for supporters themselves. They need support too. Taking on such a big burden can be overwhelming. The site is truly designed to be able to help anyone that is affected by cancer and all of its woes.
Where can we find out more information about the I Had Cancer site?
You can visit the website itself and sign up to get started or to learn more about what we are doing. You can also visit and follow us on Twitter and on fan us on Facebook. Also, there are some You tube videos that we have done that can be very inspirational as well.
It was an inspiration and honor to speak with Mailet and learn her personal story. I'm sure that many will continue to be inspired by her and her experience with Cancer, as well as how she was able to overcome it through treatment, her positive attitude and great team of support.
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