At the August 13th retreat, our group of teens compiled a list of the hardest things about having cancer, what helps, and what they would tell other newly diagnosed patients. Check it out!
Hardest parts about having cancer as a teen:
- Loss of privacy
- Steroids
- Unexpected things happening
- Weakness
- Loss of independence
- Anticipation of bad/hard things
- Over-protective parents
- Boring
- Side effects of treatment
- Change in physical appearance
- Isolation
- Missing out on things your friends are doing
What helps:
- Friends
- Positive goals
- Positive people in your life
- Siblings that treat you the same as they treated you before you were diagnosed
- Talk about things other than cancer
- Health care providers that have a sense of humor, are understanding, flexible, and care about you as a person
Top 5 things I would tell another teenage cancer patient:
- Have a sense of humor
- It’s going to suck but you’ll get through it
- There is always a light at the end of the tunnel
- Get facts and information—be prepared!
- Find the good in your diagnosis—it can change your perspective and outlook on life