--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having cancer does make you try to be…" description: "\"Having cancer does make you try to be better at everything you do and enjoy every moment. It changes you forever. But it can be a positive change.\" — J..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1c/jaclyn-smith-15569_breast-cancer_having-cancer-does-make-you-try-to-be-be_2987678.png" --- # Having cancer does make you try to be better at everything… ![“Having cancer does make you try to be better at everything you do and enjoy every moment. It changes you forever. But it can be a positive change.” quote by Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1c/jaclyn-smith-15569_breast-cancer_having-cancer-does-make-you-try-to-be-be_2987678.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1c/jaclyn-smith-15569_breast-cancer_having-cancer-does-make-you-try-to-be-be_2987678.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1c/jaclyn-smith-15569_breast-cancer_having-cancer-does-make-you-try-to-be-be_2987678.png) > “Having cancer does make you try to be better at everything you do and enjoy every moment. It changes you forever. But it can be a positive change.” [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cancer can inspire personal improvement and appreciation of life, leading to positive change. **In simple terms:** Cancer can motivate better living and gratitude. Key Takeaway Turn adversity into growth. Themes health resilience mindset gratitude transformation Mood hopeful inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - support groups - therapy - mindfulness practice - career pivot Key Concepts post‑traumatic growth life reevaluation Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster hope? - What habits sustain change? A Different Perspective Not everyone experiences positivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breast cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breast-cancer/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Positive change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-change/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We know that childhood and adolescence are the most crucial times for environmental stimuli to affect breast cancer risk, but changes made during adulthood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-fuhrman/we-know-that-childhood-and-adolescence-are-the-most-crucial-times-for/) [Joel Fuhrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-fuhrman/) > [“Slander does to a soul what cancer does to a cell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/slander-does-to-a-soul-what-cancer-does-to-a-cell/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [I had to tell Dad, 'It will be okay and be positive; keep praying and have faith'. I have always known about cancer, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermain-defoe/i-had-to-tell-dad-it-will-be-okay-and-be-positive-keep-praying-and/) [Jermain Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermain-defoe/) > [Hatred is the spiritual malignancy of our species, and like any other form of cancer, does its most terrible work not outwardly, but from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/hatred-is-the-spiritual-malignancy-of-our-species-and-like-any-other/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I don't think anybody can totally change what they are. I'd always been a strident individual, but cancer does smooth off a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-boycott/i-don-t-think-anybody-can-totally-change-what-they-are-i-d-always/) [Geoffrey Boycott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-boycott/) > [What cancer does is, it forces you to focus, to prioritize, and you learn what's important. I mean, I don't sweat the small stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-siegel/what-cancer-does-is-it-forces-you-to-focus-to-prioritize-and-you-2/) [Joel Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-siegel/) > [I wish I could never spend another second talking about cancer and all it does to everyone it surrounds, but unfortunately, that cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/i-wish-i-could-never-spend-another-second-talking-about-cancer-and/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [“FYI, car crashes kill way more kids than cancer does. Those crosses you see on the side of the highway, the little white ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/fyi-car-crashes-kill-way-more-kids-than-cancer-does-those-crosses-you/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Cancer does not discriminate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cancer-does-not-discriminate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What cancer does is, it forces you to focus, to prioritize, and you learn what’s important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-siegel/what-cancer-does-is-it-forces-you-to-focus-to-prioritize-and-you/) [Joel Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-siegel/) > [Cancer does give you a new rejuvenation. I know what it's like to be down. I lost a couple of good friends - Larry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/cancer-does-give-you-a-new-rejuvenation-i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [That was the worst part about having cancer, sometimes: The physical evidence of disease separates you from other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/that-was-the-worst-part-about-having-cancer-sometimes-the-physical/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing I did contributed to me having cancer, so I can't sit back and say, 'Oh why me.' Why not me? Why does tragedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/nothing-i-did-contributed-to-me-having-cancer-so-i-can-t-sit-back-and/) [Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/) > [Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I'd rather not belong to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/having-cancer-gave-me-membership-in-an-elite-club-i-d-rather-not/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [“I summon the courage to go for what I want. Having cancer has left me less afraid than I used to be. I’m painfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-s-force/i-summon-the-courage-to-go-for-what-i-want-having-cancer-has-left-me/) [M.S. Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-s-force/) ## More by Jaclyn Smith > [I've always been into older homes, even if I have to refurbish or remodel or raise roof lines or knock out walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-ve-always-been-into-older-homes-even-if-i-have-to-refurbish-or/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [I get better roles in television. I'm not going to do a lesser role just to be in a feature film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-get-better-roles-in-television-i-m-not-going-to-do-a-lesser-role/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [Kmart's as much a part of my history as 'Charlie's Angels.' Twenty-five years! It's not just a celebrity brand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/kmart-s-as-much-a-part-of-my-history-as-charlie-s-angels-twenty-five/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [I'm not about my breasts; I'm just about good health, OK. I'm not afraid of doing what I need to do to stay here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-m-not-about-my-breasts-i-m-just-about-good-health-ok-i-m-not-afraid/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [My mother lived till she was 95 and never had a line on her face or a frown line. She was beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/my-mother-lived-till-she-was-95-and-never-had-a-line-on-her-face-or-a/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [My first acting job was a Breck commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/my-first-acting-job-was-a-breck-commercial/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [I'm not a sex symbol. How could I be with these skinny bowlegs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-m-not-a-sex-symbol-how-could-i-be-with-these-skinny-bowlegs/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [Family is always first. Even though my kids are older - my son is 25 and my daughter is 21 - I still like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/family-is-always-first-even-though-my-kids-are-older-my-son-is-25-and/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [Panic is a horrible thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/panic-is-a-horrible-thing/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [Farrah Fawcett had courage, she had strength, and she had faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/farrah-fawcett-had-courage-she-had-strength-and-she-had-faith/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [I have never been a believer that nice clothes should only be for people with money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-have-never-been-a-believer-that-nice-clothes-should-only-be-for/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [I'm an old-fashioned girl, and I didn't believe in living with people, so I guess I married for the wrong reasons at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-m-an-old-fashioned-girl-and-i-didn-t-believe-in-living-with-people/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [I think I feel my best - I really feel the fountain of youth is inside, not out - when I'm just surrounded with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-think-i-feel-my-best-i-really-feel-the-fountain-of-youth-is-inside/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [First of all, let's get one thing straight: fitness and exercise aren't the same thing. You can exercise without getting fit, but you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/first-of-all-let-s-get-one-thing-straight-fitness-and-exercise-aren-t/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) > [I've been a fortunate girl: I grew up in a family that loved me from day one. I feel well grounded and lucky from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-ve-been-a-fortunate-girl-i-grew-up-in-a-family-that-loved-me-from/) [Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) [Explore all 42 Jaclyn Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/) ## More Breast cancer quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [It's October! Breast Cancer Awareness Month, wear pink, show support!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-october-breast-cancer-awareness-month-wear-pink-show-support/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel that between my experience and my mother's, breast cancer is a little bit like someone who lives next door. I know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/i-feel-that-between-my-experience-and-my-mother-s-breast-cancer-is-a/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [With breast cancer, it's all about detection. You have to educate young women and encourage them to do everything they have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rancic/with-breast-cancer-it-s-all-about-detection-you-have-to-educate-young/) [Bill Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rancic/) > [The women I know who have gone through breast cancer still laugh a lot. They're not crying all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/the-women-i-know-who-have-gone-through-breast-cancer-still-laugh-a/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [It's finally October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so go buy your pink ribbon and support beautiful breasts everywhere!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-finally-october-and-breast-cancer-awareness-month-so-go-buy-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I chose the Pink Fund because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I was pretty young in high school. At the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/i-chose-the-pink-fund-because-my-mom-was-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Once I overcame breast cancer, I wasn't afraid of anything anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/once-i-overcame-breast-cancer-i-wasn-t-afraid-of-anything-anymore/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [I am involved with so many charitable organizations. Lung Cancer because of my dad, Breast Cancer because as a woman and mother of two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-robbins/i-am-involved-with-so-many-charitable-organizations-lung-cancer/) Lois Robbins > [For years I've carried the label 'ex-anorexic;' no doubt that will now change to 'breast cancer patient.' But we all have challenges to face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-strachan/for-years-i-ve-carried-the-label-ex-anorexic-no-doubt-that-will-now/) [Michaela Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-strachan/) > [But when this happens to you - and I think other people would identify with this - suddenly, colors are brighter. You see everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-redgrave/but-when-this-happens-to-you-and-i-think-other-people-would-identify/) [Lynn Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-redgrave/) > [My mother had never had a day's illness in her life and never thought to have checks. Then, at 78, she discovered she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wakeman/my-mother-had-never-had-a-day-s-illness-in-her-life-and-never-thought/) [Rick Wakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wakeman/) [Browse all 343 Breast cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breast-cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Having cancer does make you try to be better at everything you do and enjoy every moment. It changes you forever. 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