I have experienced strange experience in the last few years. I was 17 years old when I was diagnosed with a colon rectal cancer, so I became a survivor of youth and youth (AYA). The theme that often occurs in AYA patients (Dasan, occupation/occupation, genetics, and financial toxicity) has greatly influenced my life. I am adopted because of cancer. I found a way of advocacy because of passion and disease in communication jobs. If you have lynch syndrome, the risk of many cancers has increased, and the schedule and budget have been held around the past 20 years.
Many AYA patients compare their lives with their colleagues who attend their lives, have a career, travel to the world, have a baby, get married, take a cheap takeout, and drink alcohol on weekends. This makes us realize what thief cancer is. I have been on this boat for 20 years, which has been in the last few years. What is it? I was 40 years old.
The label of AYA cancer applies to patients diagnosed between 15 and 39 years old. The AYA community says “AYA, always AYA,” and says quickly because of the unique long -term side effects and tasks that must be monitored and solved for the rest of their lives. But once you have the 40th birthday, something starts to change. Of course, you are still a survivor, but you are one of the oldest people in the room. It’s strange because you were one of the youngest people. Everyone is the same as in the space where he belongs, but he is not sure if he should sit in. I think young people should sit in front of you. Aya cancer comes by Aya cancer.
I no longer deal with those things. I rarely attend the wedding or baby shower outside the school. My friends and I are focusing on eating full food. I wrote a book to deal with cancer stories, and the doctor’s promise follows a predictable routine. High school classmates are now reaching the selection age of colon cancer. I personally need breast angiography every year. If my age is cancer, I still think it’s relatively young, but I’m not as shocking as I am 20 years older than me. I try to maintain relevance and understand the trends (I’m raising my teens), but I accepted that I was a Millennium generation. I still have explained the meaning of “6-7” many times, but I get lost in tiktok feed and stick to Instagram.
And in truth, I love this. It was what I fought as AYA patients. An opportunity to cover my gray and be interested in wrinkles. Concerns about surrounding and retirement savings. Also, I comfort that I am not alone. A few years ago, I found a group of survivors of fellow Aya through the Colon Club, and many were 5, 10, and sometimes 15 years older than me. We formed bonds through grassroots advocacy and storytelling. But over time, many people have raised their families, have a career, and focused on others in the community. In some ways, they said, “I conveyed the torch to me.” But now I am getting it when I am stepping on their footsteps. This is because my torch pass also started.
And I think it realizes the core role of AYA. It can grow and heal by creating a community where we find each other. It is vulnerable and shares life. And our treatment is effective and thrives when cancer is treated or in maintenance mode. It knows that you will never leave you completely and always advocate by modeling how to cling to survival. I know that it is very dangerous to become young and age and get older, and it’s okay for “aging.”
This work reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please contact the medical service provider.
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