Writing Your Own Cancer Story: Social Sharing vs Private Journaling (and How Both Can Help)
When you are living through or recovering from cancer, words can become one of your greatest forms of medicine. Whether you’re typing out your story online or quietly jotting your thoughts in a journal, expressing yourself is a way to process, heal and connect.
But in a world where social media celebrates the “big reveal” and #MyCancerJourney trends by the day, it’s easy to wonder:
Should I share my story online, or keep it private in a journal?
The truth is, both can help.. just in very different ways.
The Power of Sharing Your Story Online
Social media has changed how we talk about cancer. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become spaces where people share treatment milestones, hair loss selfies and raw reflections that would once have stayed hidden.
Sharing online can:
Help you feel less alone, especially when you find others walking a similar path.
Educate and raise awareness for those who’ve never experienced cancer firsthand.
Your honesty might give someone else the courage to seek help, go for that screening or open up emotionally.
But it also comes with its challenges.
When your story is online, you can’t always control how people react. Some may offer support and others may offer unsolicited advice or 'miracle cure' suggestions. That’s where boundaries become key.
Ask yourself before you post:
“Am I sharing to connect or am I seeking validation?”
“Would this post still feel okay to me if no one reacted?”
“Is this the right space for what I’m feeling today?”
If it’s yes then post away. If not, save it for your journal.
The Quiet Strength of Private Journaling
Private journaling gives you something that no algorithm can: freedom.
It’s your space to be completely honest without needing to filter, edit or caption it perfectly.
Journaling can help you:
Make sense of emotions that feel too big to say out loud.
Track symptoms, treatments and little wins that might otherwise blur together.
Notice patterns in how your body and mind respond through different stages.
Reflect on growth throughout your cancer journey
You don’t need to write daily. You don’t even need to write neatly. You just need to start.
It could be bullet points, doodles or even letters to your future self.
Blending Both: Your Public and Private Healing
There’s no rule that says you must choose one or the other.
Many people use both! Social media for connection and journals for reflection.
A simple rhythm might look like:
Journal first - get your raw thoughts out.
Reflect - what part feels meaningful to share publicly?
Post a version that still feels authentic but also safe.
You’ll find your balance between what belongs to you and what you gift to others.
Whether you’re writing for the world or just for yourself, your story matters.
You never know who might need to read it and sometimes, that person is you.
So share what feels right, write what feels real and let your words carry you wherever you need to go.
