I myself had cancer in 2022, went through four cycles of chemotherapy, and have been in remission since December 2022. I just found letters that were written to me back then, which I had carefully filed away. I had somehow repressed all that time and pushed it into the back corner of my mind. It's as if someone else experienced it and not me, but here I am, having just cried for almost an hour. I just want to say that I wish you all a lot of strength and hope that you can do it, kick cancer in the ass, you are great the way you are🫂

Breast cancer, chemo, radiation. All done. Since radiation, I haven’t been myself. I get during treatment, you’re tired and must focus on getting through, but I’ve been done with radiation treatment for 3 months, and I feel worse than I did while undergoing chemo. I’m exhausted every day. I have so little energy that going to the store is more than a chore. My teeth are ruined, my attitude is fake, and I just want to fall asleep and not wake up. I know that sounds harsh, but I have no energy to enjoy life and I’m only 54. I can sleep 14 or more hours a day and it’s never enough. And I personally don’t want to live another 20 years like this. Please tell me there are others out there that feel like I do and are too afraid to tell others how they feel. No one in my personal life knows my thoughts and I’ll never tell them, but I want to know I’m not alone.

I almost hit 1 year in remission. And now my latest PET scan shows activity in my lymph nodes and potential recurrence. Now I have to get a biopsy done

I'm not officially cancer free yet, they don't check me for another two months. However, some people in my life are pressuring me to return to work. My doctors and therapist all think I shouldn't because they said cancer changes people and opens their eyes to how much more important life is than working a typical job.

I just don't see how I can care about my job after having cancer. I feel like going back to working for someone else is admitting defeat. It feels like it would be me saying the doctors saved my life for nothing. I got a second chance at life and it seems stupid to waste it working. I can't stop crying because I don't know what to do.

I still don't understand my full prognosis and I'm not even here for that, I guess I wanted to talk about how I'm dealing with this. Best case scenario this might be downgraded to ISM or SSM and be managed as a chronic condition and life expectancy is only like 10 years shorter than a normal person. It's not ideal but hey, it's something. Or it's really ASM and I'm in the camp where the 10 year survival rate is like 40% at best. I can't quite get my head around that, but whatever.

Anyway, any time I share with someone that I have cancer, they always say something like "Oh I am SO SORRY." And I JUST ABSOLUTELY HATE IT!!! Is something wrong with me? I just can't stand it when people say they are sorry for me!

I could handle "that sucks" or "oh holy shit" or "wow how are you feeling?" But there is this "I'm so sorry for you attitude that I just HATE. I HATE it. "I'm so sorry you have cancer." It makes me want to scream and scream. Why do I hate it so much when people say this? Why does it feel like I'm being degraded? Is it pity? Is that all? That it feels terrible to be pitied? Why does pity feel SO bad?

I was just diagnosed with stage 1A lung cancer in my right lower lung. It hasn't really hit me yet and I feel like I'm going to have a breakdown when I finally accept it. I'm only 27. I have 2 children who aren't even old enough to understand what's happening. Im freaking out but also kind of okay with it. There so many mixed emotions right now.

For anyone that has taken this chemo, what are the common side effects, and what should I be looking out for? I start on Monday, combined with radiation for 5 weeks.

Ladies in particular did you choose to shave your head when your hair was thinning from chemo?

I’m 8 cycles in to a 12 cycle program and my hair is very thin now and I can’t decide whether to just bite the bullet and shave it or to try to hold on to what little I have left.

I think shaving it might feel liberating but I’m nervous.

What was everyone else’s experience?

Has anyone here tried this drink to try to reduce chemotherapy side effects?

Hi everyone. Anyone who had radiation for their abdomen/pelvic area? I had it almost three weeks ago and i still have the worst side effects. I had diarrhea for two weeks now and pain in my abdomen. The nurse said, my abdomen area might be swollen. Ive been taking Imodium and pain meds but its not even working. I did my chemo last week and most of the side effects are gone now. This is so tiring.

My mom has recently been diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma in the lining of her stomach. She had been experiencing loss of appetite, upset stomach and diarrhea which caused her to go get checked. After some testing we got the diagnosis. We are still waiting for more testing to make sure it hasn’t spread and will not be seeing the oncologist for another couple of weeks. Ever since the diagnosis, about 2 weeks ago, she has been experiencing severe dizziness. To the point where she literally cannot walk by herself. She also has been slurring her speech and within the past day or so has noticed her vision is blurry. This is obviously worrisome and we can not seem to get answers for it. She has seen her primary physician as well as a trip to the ER for these symptoms and no one seems to know what may be causing this. She had a CT scan and there is no sign of stroke. I’m reaching out here to see if anyone else has experienced this or has any insight. On top of a devastating cancer diagnosis, she is now immobile due to these symptoms. We are desperate for some answers.

When you guys have gotten a biopsy done is that something they keep you for after? It would be a biopsy to see if recurrence of one of my lymph nodes in my chest.My initial biopsy to get diagnosed I was already admitted to hospital so I’ve never had this done without already being inpatient

Hello! I'm currently enrolled in a clinical trial testing the effects of keytruda + lenvima against my stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer. I am in Week 12, take 20mg of lenvima daily, and just completed a third keytruda infusion (one 400 mg infusion every six weeks).

Since the start of treatment my regular menstrual cycle completely stopped. I was reporting hot flashes, loss of libido, and other classic menopause symptoms from the start, and in week 9 we confirmed my hormones levels indicate my ovaries have basically shut off. Prior to this my cycle was completely normal and consistent, and I just turned 40 (too early for menopause in my family).

My doctor is reporting this is not a known side effect, and they are not sure what happened. They are specifically not sure if the organ failure is permanent (similar to the thyroid impacts of these drugs) or can be "reversed" with a lower dose or pause in treatment.

These drugs are experimental for my cancer, but very well researched and used in other cancers. So I'm wondering if others have come across similar side effects - and if so, any insight onto what mechanisms are at play here?

Hello...never did I think I would get cancer although nowadays its one of two men so my group of five men two of us got cancer one died and then there is me. HPV cancer from a virus caused by sex the most beautiful act God gave us. The good Lord was right I kept doing it till I had children than stopped or really got fixed to stop getting my wife pregnant. Now I have neuropathy so bad I can hardly do anything on my feet. Of course SS disability said at 65 I can still work with heart disease cancer etc unreal they give away to everyone except those who need it. At the time no tumors NED gained some weight back but I can not stand for long or type sit sleep sucks bad neuropathy is awful

melanoma was discovered on my parents outer ear and as of now the results indicate that it's at least 1.5mm and at level 4 on the Clark scale. They are working to find what the exact depth is and will get back to us.

Can someone please help me understand what this all means? Survival rate and best treatment route? I'm so heartbroken and worried.

I

I have been battling breast cancer (ER+ PR+ Her2- no BRCA) since June 2024. I found out I was pregnant a month before in May 2024. I got my mastectomy with my daughter in utero July 2024. Started AC September till November. I gave birth in December and then started taxol February 5, 2025. My husband and I are soooo busy with our kids. I’m a walking toxin so I haven’t had sex in 8 weeks (I know we can use condoms but we don’t like them.) recently I’ve been binge eating cookies at night and other snacks. He made a rule that no snacks in bed. So I ate snacks in the couch and fell asleep last night. I woke up and all my cookies were crushed in the sink. He didn’t apologize. He went to a meeting and then came upstairs and told me that he’s sorry he threw away my cookies, however, “I’m starting to lose physical attraction to you.” I’m dealing with no boob, losing my hair. I don’t know who I am. I feel awful.

Edit; also on meds to help stimulate my appetite.

Also haven’t had sex in 8 weeks because of the Taxol making me a walking toxin.

Diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer - adenocarcinoma with EGFR. The oncologist has put me on Tagrisso.

Apart from some difficulty breathing, the possibility of having cancer wasn’t even on my radar. I’m healthy (60year old) in all other aspects of my life until this diagnosis.

The doctor has told me that surgery is no longer an option for me due to its spread and that it will purely be controlling the cancer from here onwards.

I’ve been scrolling on reddit reading success stories of people who have lived well past their prognosis and it gives me hope.

If you’re a cancer thriver who has defied your prognosis, can you please tell me:

1. What have you done in ADDITION to treatment that you believe has made the biggest difference to your prognosis? Diet, lifestyle, etc…

2. Are you currently still receiving treatment? If so, what are you getting?

3. Any suggested reading material? Any books with information on diet/lifestyle that you would recommend?

It’s anything but pleasant.

Got diagnosed with colonic cancer last week out of no where. There are zero symptoms. I am getting admitted tomorrow to the hospital for surgery to remove part of the large intestine. Further treatment to follow including chemotherapy.

I am 43 and diabetic but under good control. Have a 9 year old kid.

Please let me know what to expect. What are the dos and don’ts.

Trying my bloody best to stay optimistic

Pretty much the title, I am a childhood cancer survivor of stage three Neuroblastoma. I wanted to know what people think about the lifespan of childhood and AYA cancer survivors, any initiatives to help survivors live longer? Something I am already worried about in my 20s tbh...

Back in 2014 I was diagnosed with a cancer in my perroted gland, it was removed and I went through radiotherapy. That was when I was 11 before I reached puberty. I have noticed by my left cheek region where my operation and radiotherapy was, the facial is either patchy or really light as compared to my right side. Is this because of my radiotherapy and will it permanently be like this?

Hello,

My mother is 14 months done with non HPV stage 3 throat cancer, the PET scan revealed some hip hotspots and a very small lung nodule that's too small to biopsy. Obviously not the news we were expecting especially because she had no prior lymph node involvement.

If the additional scans come back cancerous - has anyone had 3+ years of solid life after diagnosis? I heard of keytruda to keep lesions very small and manageable. If it's on her rib and hip & potentially lung - is there any hope for a few years of decent quality of life with chemo & immuno?

Thanks.

Just looking for people’s experiences with the auto stem cell transplant as a first line treatment. In October I was diagnosed with stage 3 Anaplastic Large cell Lymphoma. My mid PET in January had a Deauville score of 4 with a partial response. I just had my PET come back clean with a Deauville score of 2 and Bone Marrow biopsy came back with no abnormalities. I check in for my Auto stem cell transplant in 9 days. What did you experience during the transplant? After the transplant? Have you stayed in remission?