Long Term Cancer Survivorship island by by Dana Stewart, Survivor and YSC RISE Advocate

SoldierCrab

I found this on facebook today thought it would resonate with others.... 

https://blog.youngsurvival.org/survivorship-island/?fbclid=IwAR2ir4KkxjfS0NTSpjDHRzKEUILh_t7y-Sqwr7E_IdH2vzf-rbgE7bSjQng

Afraser

As is said repeatedly, we are all different. I can honestly say that the article does not reflect my experience. It’s certainly true that I think about cancer more than I did before diagnosis, but then I hardly ever  thought about it. No cancer in my family, of any description until I was in my fifties (a distant male cousin). Knowing it’s possible does change your thinking. But not to the extent that it messes with my life. I can thank a good counsellor, an empathetic surgeon and a supportive oncologist for helping me make my way to a  new normal, that wasn’t radically  different but actually a real improvement. I can thank all my family that I wasn’t carrying unresolved baggage when I went into bc land. I had some lucky breaks but I have also tried to milk the best I can out of the experience. For those starting out on this mad road trip, there are, as the writer says, many  outcomes. 

MicheleR

Hi, 

I read that article. That lady was very young when diagnosed and i can understand her distress.

I was diagnosed at 48 which is also considered young but have a good 15 years on her. Im also not that far along in survivorship so who knows but certainly i feel that having gone through chemo and sat alongside people who may never come off chemo (other types of cancer mostly) that im lucky and that i want to live as hard as i can. 

Im sure i will worry to some degree but i want to try and get on with it and live better. 

I think hope is vital. Hope that we will be able to have a long life, hope that we are pain free, hope that new treatments will come and we will have access to them (for physical and mental needs). 

In between the hope i look for moments of joy and meaning.

Michele

Dory65

Facing BC (and all it entails) as a younger person must be absolutely frightful, for myriad reasons we can all imagine. Quite a different experience from those of us who have, at least, had a few more of life's experiences under our belts. I'm sure the writer's feeling resonate with many BC survivors, especially the younger ones.

StarGirl

I don’t want to detract from anyone’s distress or take away from their personal experience, and I really don’t mean to offend anyone individually, but that piece just kinda made me do a massive eye roll. 

FLClover

Sounds like this girl has generalised anxiety or similar, and as she mentioned PTSD. It was probably pre-existing. The cancer would’ve just made it worse. Being diagnosed that young even worse. I don’t think she’s dealing with what the root cause of it all is, which as I said was probably there before the cancer diagnosis. Her therapist might just be helping her deal with the cancer related stuff, and not anything prior to that, which probably also really needs to be dealt with. I hope she resolves it eventually and starts fully enjoying her life.