Cancer is Different for Young Adults- part 2/3

Early after my diagnosis, I decided to make my cancer journey a public one in hopes that sharing my experience with cancer could inspire others, help people get checked in hopes of early detection, and help other cancer survivors feel less alone. The feedback and support I got was incredible, however, I still often felt alone myself. I also felt terrified, frustrated, depressed, anxious, confused, and very angry.

I was always the youngest in the waiting room at the Cross Cancer or waiting in the chemo line (I had pill form, not IV), and none of my friends could relate to what I was going through. At our chemo info session, my husband and I were the youngest amidst a sea of grey hair and walkers. We were the only ones asking questions about things like fertility, and no one else was on a non-IV plan.

I started chemotherapy in the fall. The drugs gave me terrible hand and foot side effects and fatigue. Luckily, I had little nausea and no hair loss, but I had many delays in my treatment because of my side effects. They finally found a dose my body could somewhat handle (60 per cent). I had terrible chemo-related brain fog (still do). I did not want to leave the house.

I told people I was “doing ok” because it was easier than having more people worry about me. I was often depressed, easily irritated, and discouraged half the time, but then the other half of the time I was ready to kick ass and be strong and positive.