Here’s What It’s Actually Like To Be A Young Person Who’s Been Through Cancer

Content warning: This article discusses suicide.

From demanding schedules to emotional burnout, living with cancer is more than just doctor visits and treatment sessions. For young Australians, the battle also encompasses everyday realities such as keeping up with homework, studying for exams, navigating public transport, and feeling isolated from your mates.

We spoke to two survivors about the vital support they received for those less-than-obvious cancer curveballs.

Accepting The Unacceptable

Dessy, 31, first realised something wasn’t right when she noticed bruising and red spots on her legs. A gym junkie at heart, Dessy was also frustrated by how fatigued she was feeling. “I got tired really easily and even after a simple walk, I was out of breath,” she says.

When her husband and friends begged her to get checked out, Dessy went to the GP, agreed to a blood test and was told the very next morning to rush to emergency. She was then diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia – a rare sub-type of acute myeloid leukaemia with less than 100 cases diagnosed in Australia each year.

Within 24 hours, her life entirely suddenly changed. “It was really hard for me to tell my family and friends because it was such a big shock,” she says. “I didn’t tell them for about a week… I’d always seemed so healthy.”

More Than Just Treatment

Dessy needed four rounds of chemo, each spanning four weeks, but there was another issue lurking in the background – a practical issue. “I don’t drive, and we only have one car between us at home that my husband needs for work,” she explains. “I couldn’t use public transport because my immune system was so low.”

Daily taxis and rideshares were also out of the question due to the expense. That’s when the Leukaemia Foundation stepped in to provide free transport to and from Dessy’s treatment sessions. “We were so grateful the Leukaemia Foundation came along at the time we needed them most,” she says. “I utilised that service so much.”

 

Dessy also loved meeting the volunteer drivers. “They were really willing to help even though they were much older than me,” she says, giggling. “They wanted to contribute to other people’s lives, and it makes me happy knowing people are thinking about those with cancer, like me.”

Trying Not To Sweat (The Small Stuff)

Although Dessy completed her eight months of treatment and is now leukaemia-free, it’s been a long wait to get back to her normal routine. “I’m excited about going back to the gym,” she says. “During treatment, I had a port in my arm and couldn’t get it wet, so exercising (because I would sweat) and even showering was hard.”

Discovering A New Normal

During his final months of high school, Adry, 23, started losing weight, experienced muscle aches and pains and had regular bouts of extreme fatigue. Like most teens in Year 12, he attributed his symptoms to exam stress. But when he found a mysterious lump, Adry knew something was definitely wrong. He was later diagnosed with an aggressive form of testicular cancer that had spread to his vital organs. “I was really confused at first,” he says. “I couldn’t believe this was all happening during the most critical and defining moment in my life up until that point – I thought I’d be busy studying, stressing about a formal date, and choosing a university degree.”

Deep Impact

Adry’s diagnosis was followed by regular bouts of anxiety. “It was very difficult for me to accept this was going to be part of my life,” he explains. “I was anxious about the impact my illness was having on my education and career goals, but also the impact it was having on friends and family.”

His anxiety, in turn, manifested suicidal ideation. “I really started to question my self worth and whether my life was worth living,” he admits. Thankfully, Adry had unwavering support from his family, friends, and the community at Redkite. “That support made all the difference,” he says. “It allowed me to make sense of a miserable and dark circumstance.”

Forging Ahead

While family and friends worked on keeping Adry happy at home – “They scheduled things for me to look forward to every week, like dinner out or a Swans game” – Redkite was the support system for his career and study goals.

“After graduating and getting into the uni course I wanted, my cancer relapsed and I had to defer for a year,” Adry explains. “It was a blessing in disguise as it introduced me to Redkite support services.” He met their education and career consultants through his social worker at his treating hospital, which ensured his long-term goals stayed on track.

“They help you refine your CV, write cover letters, help you search for jobs, and get you ready for interviews,” he adds. “I didn’t know how to navigate the job hunt so having their support instilled a big sense of security,” he adds.

Knowing his future had a level of security filled Adry with comfort. “Redkite helped ease my transition into life after cancer” he says. “I’m now living a much healthier and more rewarding life.”

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(Lead image courtesy of Redkite)

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Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer, like Dessy and Adry. Sign up today.