Hi,
I'm 21 in my second year of university and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer not too long ago. It came as quite a shock considering I've been told it was benign for a few years and so I'm trying to come to terms with the idea that my uni life won't look the way I expected it to.
I've had my first surgery but I've recently found out I'm going to need a second one and Iodine radiation treatment and then also adjust to being on hormone replacements. Although I'm obviously grateful for having a good prognosis, I'm still finding it really stressful trying to figure out how to balance my academic and social life at university through this. Especially because I can't plan what my year or academic journey is going to look like anymore, I've got an awful underlying anxiety at the moment about everything I need to organise and sort.
I've no idea what sort of government funding I'm eligible for if I have to take this year out, or what sort of support is available to me from the uni if I take the year out too since I technically won't be an enrolled student for the year. Honestly, I'm just feeling very broke, very lost, and very overwhelmed with all the possibilities.
(I've also no idea how to handle my landlord if I have to move back home.)
I guess I'm just feeling everything at once now I know I'm going to need more treatment when I thought the first surgery would sort it. It sounds stupid but it feels so unfair when I've worked so hard to be where I am.
Any advice on how to deal with doing an interruption of studies or general university life with cancer would be greatly appreciated! I've not spoken to anyone in a similar situation as me so it would be nice to have some peer support >:)
