From an Old Childhood Cancer Survivor to a Young Survivor

Longtermsurvivor 1

I’m speaking from the experience of a long-term childhood cancer survivor—just myself, not all of us. It's been a 60-year journey: good, bad, and everything in between.

I don't know exactly what this young person is going through, but when I was their age, I didn’t have anyone to walk beside me, hold my hand, or tell me things would be okay. The battle scars from surgeries, tests, and treatments left visible and invisible wounds. The mental scars were often worse—especially when you overheard doctors talking about your fate like you weren’t even in the room. Things you were too young to understand but too aware to ignore.

At one point, I was told what sounded like a death sentence: “If you live to this age, you'd be lucky.”

And now you're questioning this child’s understanding of what's happening to them. But I promise you—unless you've lived it, you can't begin to imagine what it’s like to face this as a child. Add to that the crushing financial toll it takes on the entire family—something no one talks enough about. It affects every single person, and often, we don’t realize how deeply until years later.

Forgive me if I drift from one thought to another—memories come in waves. I try to write them down so this young person, or anyone like them, can feel a little less alone. It’s been 60 years since my first cancer surgery, and I’m still dealing with the late effects. This never ends—but if you have faith, and family, you can survive more than anyone expects.

I hope these words help, even if just a little. I don’t have all the answers. Truthfully, I’m still discovering the questions.

I’ll be praying for this young person—that they come through it as strong, or stronger, than I did.

“With hope and strength, Joseph”