The battle with cancer can feel hopeless.
For many, even just getting the diagnosis can feel like the scariest moment in life.
Here are their responses:
1.
“I found out I had cancer while I was 35 weeks pregnant.
I had visited my doctor 6 times about hard lumps in my neck.
He dismissed my concerns every time and blamed my massive lumps on being pregnant.”
“I had lymphoblastic lymphoma (similar to leukemia) when I was a junior in high school.
I ended up going to my state university.”
“July 4th, 2022, the day I will never forget.
After a minor operation, I was told I had cancer on my pancreas.”
rjv16
4.
“I felt fine.
We went out to dinner at a restaurant that was famous for its salads.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 35.
I had a bilateral mastectomy, chemo, reconstruction (twice), and a hysterectomy.
So many people called me a ‘survivor’ and celebrated when I was ‘done.'”
“My son was diagnosed with Burkett Lymphoma at the age of 6.
He spent the better part of seven months in the hospital fighting.
“I noticed a small skin lesion on my foot about eight years ago when I was 28.
I was initially told it was ringworm, then eczema, then a side effect of medication.
Continued: “I had multiple biopsies over the years that came back as dermatitis.
I was so relieved to have a diagnosis, even if it was cancer.
Not knowing [for] all those years was so much worse.”
“I am a childhood leukemia survivor.
My mom’s first cousin has always been a grandmother-like figure in my life.
A couple weeks after my diagnosis, she came over to cook chicken soup from scratch.”
“I am 78 years old and at the age of 70, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
My heart immediately started pounding and my stomach sank.
The words ‘You have breast cancer’ came out of her mouth and I immediately burst into tears.”
“I was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 40.
My left one was the size of an orange and was interfering with walking.
As soon as I saw my doctor’s face I knew it wasnt good!”
“I learned I had a cancer mass on my kidney the morning my husband died of skin cancer.
My daughter found a lump in her breast around the same time; she died after five years.
I am learning how to live alone.”
Anonymous
13.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34.
My family and I were (naturally) stunned.
I was single, going to school, and working full time.
I stopped at every step and said ‘I wont let this beat me.’
It will be 20 years in October.”
15.And finally: “May 15th, 2005 was a rough day!
There are some very heavy, and some hopeful, stories here!
Hopefully, for some people, this was a bit therapeutic.
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
