Social effects during adult years

Hi Natalie,
My name's Linda and I run a discussion group for long term survivors of childhood/adolescent cancer. I would say that how people deal with their past medical problems is as individual---well as each individual. Everyone has something from past treatment to deal with and each person seems to find some way working through those experiences. Some people in our group have become more religious. Others have decided that talking with a psychotherapist is the way to find help. I don't think there is any one thing that is right. I do think that it can help to talk with other survivors--share experiences etc. If you want to know more about our group you can go to ACOR.ORG adn click on mailing lists---we are the long term survivors group and there are more than 400 of us from all over the world. Come join us and talk with other survivors.
Linda

Hello. My name is Rebecca. I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at 6. Then because of another problem at 26 I was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma. I too have faced depression, severe at times. I also have type 1 diabetes (dx'd at 3 years 3 days). So I have spent my whole life with one disease or another. I was on chemo for 4 years with the ALL, massive chemo for 7 months with the Leiomyosarcoma. I am very open to the diagnoses' that I face and the outcome and the treatments. Depression alot of the times goes hand in hand with alot of other diagnoses. Right now not only am I in remission from the sencond bout of cancer, but also depression. But I am still shy at times but other times outgoing. It has caused some friends to back away once they realize I have faced cancer twice in my life (I am almost 30 years old), but it also has gained me friends, those that know what it is like to have had or have cancer, the treatment and such.

My name is Krupal, I was diagnosed with AML when I was 14, I am 19 now, just hit the 5 year remission mark. I am pretty paranoid, but I became a lot more outgoing after I got sick then before. I used martial arts to get over cutting (I did a couple of times, but thats it.) I became outgoing because I figured if I wasnt going to live that much longer, I'd rather at least go out talking. The physical effects will linger for a while, sometimes random joints will give out, and stuff like that, but you just gotta push on. Don't worry about what others think about you, it doesn't matter. Only what you think about yourself.

Natalie - I think everyone goes through something like this. I was diagnosed w/ Hodgkin's disease at 18 and am now 25. About a year after treatment, I was having severe anxiety attacks and have had bouts with depression. I went to see a psychiatrist who specialized in cancer patients and survivors. I definitely think it helped me - not to say that it's a solve all, because I'm still occasionally anxious or depressed - it just gives you a better way to look at it and deal with things when they get bad. Good luck and remember that you are a strong person and you WILL make it through this.

Aquagirl18 said:

You are not alone I had Cancer at 13 months and have suffered from side effects from its treatments and I am left with disabilites with my heart and with learning that make it very difficult for me socially as well. I have the hardest time finding part time work because not many people will hire me and some people still judge me because of my disabilies. I feel very alone sometimes and I have mild depression. My cancer has been in remisson for a long time and I am well into my 20's now. If anyone has advice on how to deal let me know and I am here to support anyone who might want to talk etc.

Hi everyone my name is nicole and i was diagnosed with ALL when i was 4 years old, i am 24 now and have come to the realization that i have to start dealing with the emotional side effects of both illness and treatment. I have been stepping over the line many times since i have been in remission but i never had the tools, the strenght or the courage to do so. you could say that i have been in denial. i alwaya thoght that i was the only one who had this disease and at 19m diagnosed with a heart condition then 22 with a non cancerous tumor treated by surgery. reading the story's i am now getting a sense that i am not alone. however i need a lot of help, my family has focused on putting all this behind me as well as themselves, i've played along over the last 20 years, but i can't do it anymore. No one understands me, i break down all the time and noone understands why. Ive been to a million therapists but they don't have a clue what it's like to be me or know what it feels like to have this pain and emotional distress hovering over me day after day. after 5 years of school i graduated a year later finding out that i can't survive working in my field, now im unemployed and tired and depressed all the time and my family and friends tell me to get over it, they dont have a clue.