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Dealing with cancer in high school.

kurtis
kurtis CSN Member Posts: 17
in Young Cancer Survivors #1
My name is Kurtis and I'm 18 years old. I was diagnosed with stage IV signet ring mucinoid adenocarcinoma of the colon when I was 16,in April '09. I wasn't expected to live for long but here I am,nearly two years later. I had 12 rounds of FOLFOX and went into official remission a year after my diagnosis, April '10, but recently I had a recurrence in my kidney and now have 12 more rounds of chemo to do. I'm still going to graduate in a few months.I'm just looking for other young survivors to talk to.
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Comments

  • strongT19
    strongT19 CSN Member Posts: 4
    #2
    oh
    and i thought i had it bad. but u hanging in there. :)
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  • kurtis
    kurtis CSN Member Posts: 17
    #3
    strongT19 said:

    oh
    and i thought i had it bad. but u hanging in there. :)

    Thanks, I will :).

    Thanks, I will :).
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  • Ginachan
    Ginachan CSN Member Posts: 4
    #4
    Tough Young Man!
    I think I can understand, at least a little. I was nineteen, and had just finished my first year of college when was initially diagnosed. I remember thinking, "This sucks! I just got 'all growed-up', moved out on my own, and started a life for myself! And, now I have to move back in with my mom, and try to gut this thing out!" I give you mad props dude! There was no way I could even think about trying to continue school while I was getting treatment (VAC- five days a week for 11 months), let alone work, or aspire to "keep living". Your continued hope will get you through it. Dream big, and have fun any/every chance you get! If you e-mail me I'll send you a copy of the picture the tattoo I had put on the back of my head when I finished treatment the second time! It rocks!
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  • musicphantom
    musicphantom CSN Member Posts: 1
    #5
    hey im anna im a senior in
    hey im anna im a senior in high school and i'm doing a project on cancer survivors and was wondering if you can help me out. all i have to do is ask you some questions. if you are intersted let me know at singerx1221@aim.com Please and thank you
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  • C_Reich
    C_Reich CSN Member Posts: 10
    #6
    Hi, Kurtis my name is
    Hi, Kurtis my name is Cameron and im 17 years old. I was diagnosed with stage 2B hodgkin's lymphoma lymphocyte predominant when I was 16.

    I received only 3 rounds of chemotherapy, but was a very intense regiment. My remission came only six months after my diagnosis, and the second half of my regiment was i was supposed to receive radiation treatment. But to the doctor's suprise i never had to. During my fight with cancer, i was in the hospital for a combined total of over 3 months. One of the most suprising things was that I had received a Pulmonary Embolism, while i was receiving treatment. The PE was probably the thing that worried me the most, I am only 16? Why do i have a life-threating blood clot that I only here happen to older people. I also have some issues with my nervous system, and have not yet returned to school this year >.< I am still constantly in the hospital and seeing my doctors non-stop even though i am remission. I would enjoy talking to someone else my age, about cancer and the experiences. I never really met anyone my age at the St Jude clinic i go to :/ everyone was very young, and i seemed to feel "old" around everyone and out of place.
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  • kurtis
    kurtis CSN Member Posts: 17
    #7
    C_Reich said:

    Hi, Kurtis my name is
    Hi, Kurtis my name is Cameron and im 17 years old. I was diagnosed with stage 2B hodgkin's lymphoma lymphocyte predominant when I was 16.

    I received only 3 rounds of chemotherapy, but was a very intense regiment. My remission came only six months after my diagnosis, and the second half of my regiment was i was supposed to receive radiation treatment. But to the doctor's suprise i never had to. During my fight with cancer, i was in the hospital for a combined total of over 3 months. One of the most suprising things was that I had received a Pulmonary Embolism, while i was receiving treatment. The PE was probably the thing that worried me the most, I am only 16? Why do i have a life-threating blood clot that I only here happen to older people. I also have some issues with my nervous system, and have not yet returned to school this year >.< I am still constantly in the hospital and seeing my doctors non-stop even though i am remission. I would enjoy talking to someone else my age, about cancer and the experiences. I never really met anyone my age at the St Jude clinic i go to :/ everyone was very young, and i seemed to feel "old" around everyone and out of place.

    I know how you feel. I'm on
    I know how you feel. I'm on my 5th treatment in the second round of 12, which means I've now had 17 chemos along with multiple surgeries. I also feel older than others my age but I guess it's just something we have to live with now, ya know? I'm the only young person in the ward that I see at least.
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