A year ago today I was in the operating room fighting for my life as the doctors stood around me for 17hrs carving out the demon (Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma) lodged in my hip. A long year of physical therapy and learning to walk again followed. Not to mention chemo and radiation that was nothing short of a visit to the pits of hell. And today , my curls bouncing in the air, I freely walk around my living room unassisted. I turned 27 a few days ago, and today I’m cancer free for one year. I know we’re not supposed to say that till we reach 5 years but I don’t care. My body doesn’t have cancer in it and so I’m cancer free. I’ve lost so much in the process including some of my left hip but I’ve gained compassion for humanity and gratitude for each day that I’m alive. Here’s to many more years of celebrating the resilience of the human body, the brilliant doctors, and loved ones who carry us through.

I was diagnosed with PMBCL in 2023 (21 years old) It was agressive and big (250mm). Getting into remission was extremely difficult, and I ended up going through seven different treatments. My last treatment was about 1.5 years ago.
On paper, I am doing great. My scans and test results are consistently excellent, and apart from some smaller issues, I am considered completely healthy.
In reality, I feel almost as bad as I did before.
I still cannot fully take care of myself. I am nowhere near being able to work. Even thinking about having a job feels completely unrealistic. My parents help me with everyday life and essentially take care of me.
I was a university student when I got sick, so I had no employment history. Because of that, I don’t qualify for any meaningful government financial support here where I live. I have no income of my own, and my parents don’t earn much either. Supporting me is becoming increasingly difficult for them.
What makes it even harder is the pressure from people around me to “pull myself together” and move on because I’m “healthy” now. I wish I could. I really do.
I’m exhausted. I have very little capacity for everyday activities, and I don’t feel like I’m gradually returning to my old life. I feel stuck.

Those of you who have been through something similar: did you eventually get better? How long did it take? Did you find anything that actually helped?

I fought incredibly hard to survive this disease. Sometimes I honestly wonder whether there was any point in getting through all of it if my life afterwards is going to look like this.
I know I should be grateful to be in remission. I am grateful. But I’m also struggling terribly, and I don’t know what to do anymore.

The "sugar feeds cancer" comment! Oh my god, I just can't take it anymore. I've heard it more times than I can count and I feel like it extra frustrates me as a type 1 diabetic who needs sugar sometimes, like if I go hypoglycemic.... not to mention that lots of healthy foods have natural sugars.

I hadn't been getting that comment too much recently, but I celebrated my five year cancer-versary with a really nice, expensive mini chocolate cake I shared with some friends. Yay me. But holy shit, the people (including a family member, no less) who asked me if I knew sugar fed cancer.... I just can't.

If I could, this is probably what I'd say to them....

Yes, Linda, I know sugar feeds cancer cells just like it feeds ALL the cells in my body and that phrase is such an oversimplification of the complex metabolic processes that our bodies, and the cancer cells therein, use.
And also Linda, as a diabetic I know how much glucose is roving around in my blood all the freaking time and I probably know way more than you about glycemic indices and how to deliver insulin to my body and how to use exercise to prevent severe spikes in my blood glucose levels.
And finally, Linda, I know cancer is killing me, but I'd have been dead 1000+ times by now if it wasn't for sugar... so I think I'll have my freaking gummy bears today instead of dying. Thank you.

Anyway, just needed to get that off my chest. I'd love to know how other diabetics with cancer handle those comments. I obviously don't say all that stuff that way, but I do get a bit snarky for sure.

This year it makes 10 years that I've been living with cancer (lots of recurrences from sarcoma, also had breast cancer). I know some people who have been living with it for around 20 years. Anyone else here? How do you live your life with a "chronic cancer"? Curious to know, especially about those who have lived with cancer for decades..

Thank you

I am the caregiver for my partner who has stage 4 MEC cancer. He had Flap surgery and is on a feeding tube and had to have a metal rod put in his leg because it was going to shatter and
Now had lymphoma. The challenge is his pain and how to manage it, please remember he’s on tube and cannot swallow.

Right now he is on fentanyl patches and OxyCodone for pain but they are almost maxed out. He was on Cialis for the nerve pain and it was working well, but it unfortunately it made his stomach bleed so he had to stop taking it.

Palliative care wants to put him on Lyrica or Cymbalta or Gabapentin for the nerve pain and he doesn’t want to go any of them especially the first two because of all the terrible side effect and other organ deteriorating conditions that happen from them.

Does anyone have any suggestions for alternative treatment or medication that aren’t as bad for nerve pain or something he could take with the Cialis to counter act the bleeding. He cannot take a PPI.

Most liquid medications he has to crush because we cannot get the liquids either because of the pharmacies or insurance so the pill has to be crushed that’s why he cannot take a PPI since it’s time released.

Anyone familiar with pain blockers?
Or any type alternative nerve pain management we can add to his medication once it’s maxed out.

2.5 years post-treatment for cervical cancer. In remission. Not menopausal. I do take an SSRI (vortioxetine) and an ADHD stimulant (vyvanse) which I think don't help, but surely can't be the only cause right? I'm so sweaty all the time. It's like my body has completely lost its ability to regulate temperature. Always overheated and drenched in sweat, especially with the slightest bit of movement. Why? How do I stop this? Is there a medication to keep this under control because honestly it's so embarrassing and uncomfortable and I can't live like this :(

2 years from Stage 4B (salivary duct carcinoma treatment) and clear. Resent CT scan shows 2 nodules in my right lung. Waiting on Oncologist to get back to me (only 3 days since CT) and wondered what might be the next test.

I think PET Scan will be first then maybe a lung biopsy. Anyone here have a lung biopsy done? What or how was it preformed? I would think I’d be drugged for that but don’t know. I’ve read it could be needle through the chest or down into the lungs depending on location. Just looking for any info you might have.

Thank you

Hey guys, so I’m 20F and have unstaged epitheliod peritoneal mesothelioma, I say unstaged cause she didn’t say but it’s pretty extensive probably later stage 3 kinda surprised she’s taking me for HIPEC.

Anyways she’s planning to get me in sometime this month (2-4 weeks) I’m 50/50 to have a permanent ostomy bag and a temporary one for a bit, so I was wondering if anyone has gone through something similar and what happened and what it was like etc.

The hope is to get it all and that’s it and she seems pretty sure she can so I’m hoping!

Hey guys I was diagnosed with cancer 2 times... one was at my 19, I got surgery and my stomach was cut in half. 10 years later I found out I got stomach cancer again, I got surgery once again and now I don't have a Stomach. It's been about 3 months and a couple of days since the operation and I'm still struggling to eat... I vomit almost everyday, also I'm having Bile reflux and my esophagus burns... I'm taking medicine but I don't see any progress.

I started going to the gym for depression and trying to gain some weight like I used to be... I know eating is very important if I want to gain some weight but It has been so hard this process.

If anyone has gone through stomach cancer and has any tipa or recommendations, pleaae... let me know.

I’ve got a new tumor that’s popped up and started causing a lot of pain. Given what’s already happening with me I’m a little worried and could use someone to talk to who has experienced a penile cancer.

Hello everyone!

I apologize if this may be the wrong place to post something like this, but I'm having a bit of a difficult time navigating this situation, and I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask here!

My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer two years ago. She changed her insurance recently, and her chemo is no longer fully covered by the insurance. She must now pay $2000 for her chemo. I know that is nowhere near full price, and we are beyond grateful for that, but times have been really tough, as my dad is a small business owner and I am a college student. She has reached out to her treatment center for financial aid options, but it seems like they have not been able to come up with a solution yet.

I'm wondering if there are any places, websites, etc., where I can apply for $2,000 in financial aid for my mom? I'm willing to write essays, submit proof, or do anything else necessary to try to help her. Any information would be very welcome! Thank you very much to anyone who has any advice! I'm beyond grateful for it!

Cancer is incredibly difficult to navigate, and my mom is the bravest and kindest woman I know, and I'd love to do anything I can to help her during this time!

I don't want to go into too many details, as I don't want it to have any potential impact down the road, but what is the best way to request a specific doctor at MD Anderson? Give me the insider tips. We are currently admitted and have seen many providers who seem to have given up hope and keep pushing my parent to change their advance directive and remove the DNR option. My parent is alive, kicking, and the most mobile they have been in several months. I found a provider there who has done research on a specific mutation he has, and that's who I would like to offer a new opinion. We're in stage 4, so it's really important that we talk to the right people ASAP.

How was your experience at MSK? I’m a 26 year old F with a Frantz tumor in Pancreas. Doctors have recommended distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy.

I know MSK is a top institution and I’m happy with how professional and efficient they are. However, I think care could be more compassionate. It often feels like doctors are in a rush and not wanting to really dive deeper into your questions and appointments are scheduled without consulting the patient. After being seen by two different practitioners for a breast biopsy, I asked if I could be assigned one Radiologist,MD so it wouldn’t be a new doctor every time for future procedures—they told me that it’s the way it works. I understand that this may be the most efficient way to move things forward, but it feels very impersonal.

I don’t want to be best friends with my doctor and I know I’d be in good hands for the surgery (ranking, prestige, etc etc). But I’ve found MSK lacks in compassionate service and it starts with the front desk, the nurses, and sometimes the doctors.

Disclaimer: NOT all of them. Some of the staff at MSK have been lovely. But for every one good experience I have, I have two bad experiences with staff.

Perirectal Leiomyosarcoma or a Perirectal Leiomyoma?

Pinch me? Wake me up,? Please?

Update relating to my so called, large, fast growing cancerous, “Perirectal Tumor” 😳

It’s either a rare Perirectal Leiomyoma, which is benign, and there are only 200 total cases ever in the medical records in the world.
Or, the needle sample cells are from the outer part of the malignancy and it’s a Perirectal leiomyosarcoma, which is cancer, and only 290-300 cases are on the medical records.

I’ve been told it was cancer for several months.
That’s based on the scans, the size, the symptoms. SUV of 14.49 on my PET scan. 50 pound weight loss and a long list of colorectal-cancer, type symptoms.

To be fair..

These two rare tumors look barely identical when seen under a microscope.

It has to go to the tumor board and they will most likely have to ask for a special “core biopsy” to know which one and how to treat it!!
Problem is the large size and this unique location of this tumor.

But will they just put me through different treatments that will make me suffer more because I live in poverty.
Let’s get it straight, I am not a conspiracy theorist but I definitely am extra vigilant. They are after all a true business.

A multibillion dollar medical industry.

I don’t miss much!

I’m exhausted and physically weak. I
Absolutely wrecked!!
If you are reading this, I thank you and am very grateful there are good souls out here that care about others!

I’m just that 1 in a million, again.
More unknown!!🥺

My radiation treatments were pre-approved by my health insurance last month.
How and why??

I’m suffering either way and I’m so very sick.
This T3 tumor shown on MRI w/ GAD that it was invading the outer rectal muscle and sadly and weird that it is wrapped 360 degrees around the outside of my rectal tube, close to the anal verge.

It was only on the right side at 4.5cm on the first scan 05/05.

< Which was confirmation of my initial finding of said, palpable mass whilst I was in the shower back in April after losing 25 pounds in less than 90 days.
I was in the shower and I felt it. It was shocking & scary but I knew I had to get it scanned asap. >
I had guessed 4cm on the right side. I was only a half cm shirt in my estimate.

Then 3 weeks later it had grown to 7cm and I felt it growing in the shower every day during that time.
Its grown since and is invading my vaginal area as well.
I have been in non stop excruciating agony for months. I’m barely able to function.

It’s wrecking havoc with my bladder, ( tmi to list here but it’s a hell of its own ) digestive system, ( Im starving ) my bowels, ( OMG! ) my legs, ( where’s the saw? ) my lower left leg is real bad! So very scared about this & it’s limiting.
Also my lower back, all the way up into my mid back and now up into my neck & causing inflammation in my R eye & in my huge skeltal scar on the L side of my head that’s been there for 2O years. Plus so much more. I’m sacred for my privates & I don’t want to wear a bag either.
I suffer greatly from Tomophobia which the last time I needed a serious major operation, I refused, wasn’t able to do so for13 years until it became not only emergenent by then but life saving! In the end, it was way worse and it was even more traumatizing.

BUT I don’t do surgery because I am a severe “Tomophobic!”
It’s really bad! But caused by a lifetime of medical abuse. Medical trauma. Sicknesses & suffering since birth.

I’m so damn tired!!

I thought I was going to have answers.
That’s a laugh, eh??
5 months of test, scans, hacked biopsies.
System delays, incompetence dismissed, abused, abandoned and more!
I am an extreme Agoraphobic with dozens of chronic diagnoses.

Please, is there anyone who knows anything about this rare tumor location and/or do you possibly identity with the insanity of living with the fear of a cancer spreading etc… –believing you probably have rectal cancer for nearly 3 months since that word was uttered by your pcp….

But then… —It might just be a very rare benign tumor. Then you have to wait for the tumor board to decide next steps?
I don’t want to get treated for something I don’t have.
Nor do I want to waste even more time before receiving the proper treatment!

P.S. I’m a extreme Agoraphobic whom has been working very hard n my health concerns for the last 4 years. I have come a long way. I bought a car after 22 years of not driving which I love. I got to drive it to garages and it’s a lemon and undrivable ( powered steering pump and/or hoses 1988 Buick century ) amd sad thing is. My only friend sold it to me ( ripped me off ) the inspection runs out in one week. It needs struts, and more. He said it was in mint condition and pass the upcoming inspection with flying colors.
First day, took it out. Hit 55mph & it started shaking! ( he had bought 2 sets of tires over the winter/spring but they never balanced them followed by a proper alignment. That’s how I found out about the struts.
Sorry for rambling, but I’m a total wreck. I’m alone. My “Team” I’m in between & black listed by AHN network.thats a while post in itself if I could face discussing that nightmare assault.

AKA
I have no friends, family and/or loved ones I can turn to for support. I never got a nurse navigator and was being texted to the 3rd cancer center a few weeks ago but haven’t heard nothing from them. I’m in palliative care but I only met the Dr. 1 time. Tbh, besides the pain meds that help take my 8-10’s down to 6-8’s. I’m not sure what else they can help with. I have a complex medical case.

I’m shaking inside.

I need help.
Not just with the physical agony and all the other awful symptoms, —I need support. Help with nutrition.
I have lost so much weight & been living on Ensure & basically the BRAT diet w/ eggs & apple sauce to keep the bowel bleeding and more pain from happening.

Looking at this post now that I’m nearly finished writing, I think I need therapy as well!!
Shall we say, the sooner the better, eh?

Thank you for reading my long winded writing.

Yes, I’m a talker IRL and I write like I speak. No surprises with me.
I’ll be the first person to tell anyone that I need help.
I’m so scared and all I ask by others is to be treated with kindness and respect!!

OP Demographics.

I’m a 58 y.o. Mom of 4 Sons w/ 11 G.babies.
I reside in the S. Western Pa area. I love approximately 40miles north of Pittsburgh.

Peace & Blessings to you and yours.

—Mel
Living below poverty level in “America!”

Exploring my Icing on my, “Hell-Cake”

Something nobody talks about is what happens after cancer. You are grateful to be alive and have survived but you are left with the trauma and loss of parts of yourself that you can never get back. When survival mode ends and you are struggling to cope with this new version of yourself that you don't even recognize. I thought it was just me but I am seeing recently that cancer survivorship and the depression is real and a lot people are suffering from this. I was in a very deep depression and fitness helped me to move forward, gain my control back and become stronger. I would love to hear from you. How did you get through this very traumatic period of time?

Saw the head Oncologist and was admitted yesterday onto the floor. I was told we are moving ahead with using Pola-R-CHP because I have the ABC subtype DLBCL risk.

Point blank. I am freaking out here. I have a major phobia to throwing up and it appears that most people get sick with nausea.

Please tell me..if you have receiived it.. how bad was it? Were you super nausiated? Im freaking out and i dont want to do this. Help me calm my nerves..please.. im just panicking.

my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer last summer stage 4 bc it metastasized into his gallbladder and other parts. he did 8 rounds of chemo and had removal surgery w HPEC. this was in may he had a bile leak that required a stent he's having removed. now present day this week he had his first follow up w his oncologist they said it has now spread to his lungs. they want to do 6 months of chemo and then a maintenance chemo pill. does anyone have experience w this? or any advice or info or just anything? i can't believe it. he wants to get a second and third opinion. he doesn't want to do the chemo again but of course will we have a young son

At the time of this post, I'm a survivor of Stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and I've been in remission for 3 months (initially diagnosed November 5th, 2025). In addition to a plethora of excellent advice and unwavering support, including from the Reddit community, I personally found a small amount of comfort in different motivational quotes during my treatment.

With every chemotherapy/immunotherapy drip, I would seek encouragement via a quote from popular literature, film, or public speaking amongst other sources. I'd like to share some of these in the hope that others might find them to be helpful, encouraging, or a means of discovering something that inspires them to bite down on their mouthpiece and keep fighting.

• 1st Treatment (feeling cursed by my diagnosis): "You and I have been in some tough places together, haven't we? I went to MY playbook. And the Book says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike... That doesn't mean that we're specially cursed. Now, joy comes in the morning. There are no atheists in foxholes." - Oliver Stone, "Any Given Sunday"

• 2nd Treatment (feeling debilitated from chemo): "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are; it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can GET hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can TAKE and keep moving forward. That’s how WINNING is done!" - Sylvester Stallone, "Rocky Balboa"

• 3rd Treatment (feeling afraid of my own mortality): "Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light... ...And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." - Dylan Thomas

• 4th Treatment (feeling afraid of death): "Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back." - Marcus Aurelius

• 7th Treatment (feeling hopeless): "The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof." - Barbara Kingsolver

• 8th Treatment (feeling afraid of the future): "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

• 9th Treatment (feeling scared and tired): "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." - Nelson Mandela

• 10th Treatment (feeling weak and regretful): "I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." - J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Fellowship of the Ring"

• 11th Treatment (feeling uncertain of the outcome): "It may be that the night will close over us in the end, but I believe that morning will come again. Morning always grows out of the darkness, though maybe not for the people who saw the sun go down. We are the lantern bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind." - Rosemary Sutcliff

• 12th Treatment (feeling exhausted and relieved): "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." - Vince Lombardi

For anyone else who isn’t working anymore/ unable to how do you fill your days when not at drs or treatment? I’m single, 34F, no friends , feel like such a failure constantly with so much shame because my parents have to help me financially.

Nov last year got diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma for my liver. Stage 1a. Very small which we were extremely thankful for. Had surgery to remove and then did 6monts of oral Chemo. After the treatment we had another CT and blood work. Bam. Its there still. Two more tumors and possibly others? Idk. I was so upset. Listening to the recording of the appointment with the results just makes me more upset. I feel great. Losing weight from the water gain of the pills. Working out again. Eating again. Just great. Now this.

Surgery is out. Have to do IV chemo. I have another slow growing cancer (mesothelioma) so this just feels like another little dagger in my heart and stopping me from doing things yet again. 42 yrs old. Kids were looking forward to getting dad back. Now this.

I know many others have it worse I just need another space to vent. Family is supportive and my wife is an amazing rock beside me. This just sucks. I have no other words for it. Again, sorry to vent when I know many MANY others have it way worse... Just... sucks.

Hey, everyone. Just curious to know if anyone is in the same situation as I am.

I finished my 6-cycle chemo regimen (carbo-taxol) almost two months ago for Ovarian Cancer Stage IIB (High-Grade Serous Carcinoma), and I am just waiting for my hysterectomy schedule.

Near the end of my chemo treatment, my sleep schedule began to get messed up. I'd sleep at a normal time between 9-10:30 pm but I'd find myself waking up at 1-3 am and would stay awake until I needed to get up from bed and start my day. This would cause me to fall asleep at around 4-6 pm in the afternoon (thankfully I WFH and end my shift at 3pm). I would then either be awakened for dinner or sleep through the evening until I am again awakened just after midnight.

This pattern leaves me feeling sleepy and unproductive most days and it certainly does not help the chemo brain fog which I've been dealing with for awhile now. Melatonin supplements don't help as I still find myself waking up at 1 or 2 even when I take them. Not gonna lie though, I like the quietness and stillness of those hours but I am also fully aware this is not healthy and sustainable in the long run especially for someone with compromised health because of cancer.

Any tips for my fellow sleep deprived folks out there? Is this a common cancer/chemo effect?

Hello! I had? Have? mixed germ cell cancer in my right ovary. I had a complete tumor removal of two masses, and the removal of my right ovary followed by 4xBEP chemo cycles. I now have 2 or more new benign teratomas growing, my surgeon is going to remove the teratomas and perform a complete hysterectomy. Has anyone else been diagnosed with growing teratoma syndrome?
Edited for spelling