What I learned from having cancer as a teenager

If you’re not surprised that I had cancer at 19, you probably are when I say it was ovarian cancer.

During my first week as a sophomore in #college, I had surgery to remove my left ovary and fallopian tube along with a cantaloupe-sized cancerous tumor. I had to withdraw from school to undergo 2 weeks of fertility treatment and 3 months of #chemotherapy. I am now almost 5 years in remission!!!

Here’s what I learned from being so sick at such a young age:

1. The little things DO NOT MATTER: The pimple I woke up with and the traffic on the way to work has no power over me because I will still live my normal day and wake up the next morning. There was a time in my life when I couldn’t bank on that.

2. Rough patches reveal true colors: I lost a lot of friends during this time and I REALLY struggled with that. In hindsight I know it was a blessing in disguise because when push comes to shove, true friends will lift you up in times of hardship.

3. Trauma makes you funnier.

#cancerjourney #awareness #cancersurvivor #growth #thankful #lemon8diary #embracevulnerability Ohio