That's what I thought. Far too young to get cancer. It isn't even something I had ever thought about before, that is until I found the lump.
I'm 30. Not the youngest ever patient I know but the youngest person that I have ever known to have cancer and so I was knocked off my feet when I was diagnosed. That was over two months ago now and in that time I have had two surgeries and started chemo and in between that I have learned so much about this disease that I would probably pass the GCSE if there was one!!
People try their best to say something that will make you feel better but generally it's a story about someone else they know who has recently undergone similar treatment. The problem at my age is that whenever somene tells a story it's always about someone's mum, gran, auntie, elderly next door neighbour etc etc etc. this doesn't really help in making you feel better it just reminds you how young you are to be dealing with this disease. My mother-in-law says its because I'm special rather than unlucky which is what most people say. Maybe so but I might appreciate that more when I'm on the road to recovery.
This is the first time I have written on a blog, I feel like it will be quite therapeutic. All the thoughts you have can be written down and you can't be judged as no one really knows who you are. Not sure whether that's the idea? In fact, I aren't sure whether anything I have to say will ever be interesting enough for someone else to read but perhaps offloading and writing down my thoughts will be therapy enough for me to get through this illness without me ending up divorced and estranged from my family by the end of treatment. To be fair to them all they are being fantastic. My hubby is very supportive and is not at all worried about my impending baldness. My family are rallying around taking turns to have my son for us so that I can have some time to attend appointments at the hospital - it feels like a second home there now.
I'll tell you a bit more about my cancer story tomorrow.
lumpy x
FormerMember
My daughter went to a childminder many years ago, who had lost two children to Leukaemia. Then when she was in the 6th form, her ex boyfriend had Non-Hodgkins' Lymphoma. He is still around 25 years later to tell the tale. He was 17 when he had it.
No you aren't too young to have cancer, but being young, you have just as good a chance to get over it as anyone else.
Just calm down, do the tests, wait and see. Take one thing at a time, and enjoy your family. Have fun when you get the chance. It isn't being brave, it is filling your life with good things, so that you have less chance to worry.
You will get through this, and be glad you had the chance to understand what real life is all about. Your family will be closer to you and you will be special as you have never been special before. There is nothing wrong with that. Enjoy it. You will have aspects of treatment that aren't at all funny or enjoyable, but you will get through them and get better for the sake of the children and your wonderful husband. If you take it in your stride, he will too.
I'm not telling to think positively when you don't feel like it, but if you have a happy moment, milk it and enjoy it.
