The increasing incidence of cancer in young adults.
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{ 2 comments }
The whole “there are so many things I haven’t done” thing really resonates here. My best friend — who turned 24 in the hospital 2 weeks ago — was diagnosed with lymphoma about 2.5 weeks ago.
It’s curable, but it’s not something a 24 year old expects to hear. It’s already changed his outlook on life drastically. (For the better, for the most part.)
I, too, think about it as well, given the chronic inflammation in my ileum thanks to Crohn’s.
It’s just strange because you know, cancer is “an old person’s disease.”
Kevin, thank you for mentioning “The Young Survival Coalition” of which I am a member.
It’s devastating financially, emotionally, and spiritually to be diagnosed, period. But to be young…our cancers are usually more aggressive, and discovered later, for the very reason Dr.s don’t think we could possibly have it, yet we do.
There are entirely a whole different set of issues for young adults diagnosed with cancer. Especially, since it could be disfiguring and scaring, ripping away any chance of children, and bringing on dating issues,if you survive.
I’ve heard horrendous disclosures from my sisters, of men calling them damaged goods, and saying to them, “who would want you?” The pain of cancer is bad enough, but when you feel it’s ripped away your sexuality and fertility, as well as possibly any future, it isn’t only a matter of survival.
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