Teens With Cancer Support Group
This community is dedicated specifically to teenagers with cancer. If you are a teen or know a teen who is going through a tough fight with cancer, share your story, thoughts, and experience and listen to those who have gone through the same fight. Know that you're not alone and there are many others who want to lend you their help and support.
Hi I am 14 years old and just about to start highschool I am getting very anxious. This is my first time on a support group so bear with me. I have a spinal cord tumor that was deemed inoperable by all of the neurosurgeons where I lived so my mom took me out of state to see a doctor. We held off on surgery until my hands started going numb. They took out about 30% off the tumor. So far I have been stable it is too risky to do radiation and chemo may do more harm than good so I frequently I get an MRI and talk to my doctor. So I have to go out of state to hear that I am fine and I hate leaving my home and everything I know, my mom refuses to let me see the doctor here even though the doctor said I could. There is also this problem I have with swimming I used to be on a club team I was really good winning events and when I came back I was in last place for every event. Know I am struggling with if I should do the highschool team. It feels like torture and is a lot. Everyone is pressuring me and I'm stuck. Any advice anyone has would help. Thank you.
1) when you get up have something on your wall in your bed somewhere where you look first thing in the morning for me it was the bathroom lol that makes you happy and puts a smile on your face it may seem stupid but I woke up a lot of the times depressed and in a lot of pain but seeing that thing whatever it maybe for you put me in a mindset where I felt I could do anything
2) don't be afraid to show emotion I am the girl who keeps everything bottled up until I explode and have a breakdown but having a person or a group of friends you can confide and cry will be really beneficial it could even be a teacher for me it was my school nurse and let me tell you those 15 minute crying sessions before class really did help me
3) go on adventures in all reality right now is the time to live and not have any fears I took alot of late night trips to Boston a local city and just watch cafe shows or explore but I would also get up a 5 in the morning and go to the beach to see the sun rise it helps you clear your head and focus on something else it really dose work
and 4) do not let this illness define or rule you before finding out your diagnosis you did alot of things (assuming) and you were preparing for what would be the next for amazing years of your life my mother always told me you shouldn't need to tell your friends this because either way they should always take your feeling into consideration and your illness isn't visible you can still do anything they can do so DO NOT let this illness rule you you rule it
I know these tips sound stupid but I'm telling you it helps you will never escape the hospital visits or treatments what every they may be but I'm telling you these tips will help your mood and in turn that will help your will power I'm rooting for you and never be afraid to reach out personally to me