--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember my first day of chemo as if it…" description: "\"I remember my first day of chemo as if it were yesterday, hanging up my favorite summer dress like an athlete retiring a jersey. Within a few weeks, my..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/suleika-jaouad-6310_cancer_i-remember-my-first-day-of-chemo-as-if-i_2454833.jpg" --- # I remember my first day of chemo as if it were yesterday… ![“I remember my first day of chemo as if it were yesterday, hanging up my favorite summer dress like an athlete retiring a jersey. Within a few weeks, my waist had shrunk to a double zero - the size it was when I was in the sixth grade. My cheek bones jutting out. Rings under my eyes. Skin the color…” quote by Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/suleika-jaouad-6310_cancer_i-remember-my-first-day-of-chemo-as-if-i_2454833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/suleika-jaouad-6310_cancer_i-remember-my-first-day-of-chemo-as-if-i_2454833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/suleika-jaouad-6310_cancer_i-remember-my-first-day-of-chemo-as-if-i_2454833.jpg) > “I remember my first day of chemo as if it were yesterday, hanging up my favorite summer dress like an athlete retiring a jersey. Within a few weeks, my waist had shrunk to a double zero - the size it was when I was in the sixth grade. My cheek bones jutting out. Rings under my eyes. Skin the color of chalk.” [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects how illness can dramatically alter one’s body and identity, evoking loss of former self and confronting a new, fragile reality. **In simple terms:** Chemo changed my body and sense of self. Key Takeaway Accept change, seek support, honor your evolving self. Themes identity body image illness resilience transformation Mood reflective somber hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - hospital recovery - post‑treatment life - support groups - personal reflection Key Concepts mortality self‑perception healing vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - How do you redefine self‑worth beyond appearance? - What support helped you navigate this transformation? A Different Perspective Physical changes may not capture emotional healing; inner strength is also needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Dress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dress/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [First Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-day/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) ## Related quotes > [ By \[age\] 93, I had shrunk quite a lot. My car was known as the Phantom Cadillac. People would see it whizzing by and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/by-age-93-i-had-shrunk-quite-a-lot-my-car-was-known-as-the-phantom/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [“Ill-weaved ambition, how much art thou shrunk! When that this body did contain a spirit a kingdom for it was to small a bound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ill-weaved-ambition-how-much-art-thou-shrunk-when-that-this-body-did/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The more ships have grown in size and consequence, the more their place in our imagination has shrunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-george/the-more-ships-have-grown-in-size-and-consequence-the-more-their/) [Rose George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-george/) > [In the night, I've shrunk and everyone else on the island has grown. They're all nine feet tall and men and I'm four feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/in-the-night-i-ve-shrunk-and-everyone-else-on-the-island-has-grown/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die and none are fit to die who have shrunk from the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/only-those-are-fit-to-live-who-do-not-fear-to-die-and-none-are-fit-to-3/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“Well, the only logical explanation is that all of my clothes shrunk!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-krishna/well-the-only-logical-explanation-is-that-all-of-my-clothes-shrunk/) [Van Krishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-krishna/) > [“Somehow the present had shrunk into a smaller and much less interesting place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/somehow-the-present-had-shrunk-into-a-smaller-and-much-less/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [I shrunk my favourite jeans in my first week of university. I'd never done a wash before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-shrunk-my-favourite-jeans-in-my-first-week-of-university-i-d-never/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I've always shrunk from usurping the functions of Providence, and when I have to exercise them I decidedly prefer that it shouldn't be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/i-ve-always-shrunk-from-usurping-the-functions-of-providence-and-when/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“Blameless as I was, and knew that I was, in reference to any wrong she could possibly suspect me of, I shrunk before her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/blameless-as-i-was-and-knew-that-i-was-in-reference-to-any-wrong-she/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“She shrunk into herself and waited for me to stare at her like she was gross an dirty. But I just wanted to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/she-shrunk-into-herself-and-waited-for-me-to-stare-at-her-like-she/) [Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/) > [“Percy had shrunk to the size of a chihuahua and was perched on the kitchen table watching me make a bacon and egg pie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-hawkins/percy-had-shrunk-to-the-size-of-a-chihuahua-and-was-perched-on-the/) [Danielle Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-hawkins/) > [“There are open wounds, shrunk sometimes to the size of a pin-prick but wounds still.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/there-are-open-wounds-shrunk-sometimes-to-the-size-of-a-pin-prick-but/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [My horizon's have shrunk and I have only endings to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/my-horizon-s-have-shrunk-and-i-have-only-endings-to-write/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [In fact, my face has shrunk in the meantime, but it won't be particularly noticeable because it's covered up with hair. So I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/in-fact-my-face-has-shrunk-in-the-meantime-but-it-won-t-be/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More by Suleika Jaouad > [With a Catholic mother and a Muslim father, I've always had a great interest in religion, but I've never practiced one myself. After I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/with-a-catholic-mother-and-a-muslim-father-i-ve-always-had-a-great/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [It felt like 10 years, but I was actually in treatment for three-and-a-half years. I finally finished in April. Two years ago, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/it-felt-like-10-years-but-i-was-actually-in-treatment-for-three-and-a/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [There are days when I even long for the paralegal job that once upon a time made me so miserable. It wasn't the perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/there-are-days-when-i-even-long-for-the-paralegal-job-that-once-upon/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [When I finally returned home after my five-week hospitalization, I could feel the stares of strangers on my bald head and thinning eyebrows. Everywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/when-i-finally-returned-home-after-my-five-week-hospitalization-i/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [The bone marrow transplant procedure itself can be dangerous, but it is swift, which makes it feel strangely anti-climactic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/the-bone-marrow-transplant-procedure-itself-can-be-dangerous-but-it/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [Even amid the shock of my diagnosis, I held onto the hope that I'd be able to make the most of my down time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/even-amid-the-shock-of-my-diagnosis-i-held-onto-the-hope-that-i-d-be/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [I'll never go so far to call cancer a gift. It's a really terrible disease. It's taken the lives of so many of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/i-ll-never-go-so-far-to-call-cancer-a-gift-it-s-a-really-terrible/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [I think often when we talk about things like cancer, the kind of final act at the end of the story comes with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/i-think-often-when-we-talk-about-things-like-cancer-the-kind-of-final/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [Before my diagnosis with leukemia, two years ago at the age of 22, I'd always excelled at making resolutions. But I was never as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/before-my-diagnosis-with-leukemia-two-years-ago-at-the-age-of-22-i-d/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [Like a lot of other young people, I never thought about health insurance until I got sick. I was 22, and my adult life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/like-a-lot-of-other-young-people-i-never-thought-about-health/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [And there came a point in my treatment where I couldn't see that end in sight. And that was the most challenging, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/and-there-came-a-point-in-my-treatment-where-i-couldn-t-see-that-end/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [But no conversation between doctor and patient can magically turn an uninsured patient into an insured one. Doctors are just as helpless as patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/but-no-conversation-between-doctor-and-patient-can-magically-turn-an/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [Cancer magnifies the in-betweenness of young adulthood: You're not a child anymore, yet you're not fully ready to live in the adult world, either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/cancer-magnifies-the-in-betweenness-of-young-adulthood-you-re-not-a/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [I get along well with my medical team and I have a tremendous amount of respect for them. But the idea of discussing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/i-get-along-well-with-my-medical-team-and-i-have-a-tremendous-amount/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) > [For the better half of my early 20s, I was Bubble Girl. When I found out I had leukemia at 22 my world suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suleika-jaouad/for-the-better-half-of-my-early-20s-i-was-bubble-girl-when-i-found/) [Suleika Jaouad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) [Explore all 99 Suleika Jaouad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suleika-jaouad/) ## More 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/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [Historically, more people have died of religion than cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/historically-more-people-have-died-of-religion-than-cancer/) [Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/) > [“Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world sweetest cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/our-kind-of-love-can-go-into-remission-but-it-s-always-waiting-to/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [Bollywood is a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/bollywood-is-a-cancer/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [When people go get chemo, they're not injecting themselves with will - I have lost various loved ones to cancer, and I certainly don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/when-people-go-get-chemo-they-re-not-injecting-themselves-with-will-i/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [“the doctor hesitated before breaking the news to her. "those aren't stars. it's cancer." - forty years a smoker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lovelace/the-doctor-hesitated-before-breaking-the-news-to-her-those-aren-t/) [Amanda Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lovelace/) > [I loved you to the moon and back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-loved-you-to-the-moon-and-back/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [I would do away with super PACs. I think it's a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-conrad/i-would-do-away-with-super-pacs-i-think-it-s-a-cancer/) [Kent Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-conrad/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/) [Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/) > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) [Browse all 3,177 Cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remember my first day of chemo as if it were yesterday, hanging up my favorite summer dress like an athlete retiring a jersey. Within a few weeks, my waist had shrunk to a double zero - the size it was when I was in the sixth grade. My cheek bones jutting out. Rings under my eyes. 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