Words matter. Certain words sting, and one of them is “prevention.” Why? Because “prevention” suggests we know the cause of something and have the power to stop it. For me, that word lands heavy, almost accusatory. It’s like an unspoken judgment: You didn’t prevent this, so maybe you’re to blame.

This is a story written base on reflections my initial year after diagnosis (2016), with added comments about what I’m thinking after my second diagnosis (2024). The feature image is from Wikimedia Commons. Like my stories? Please subscribe.