Teen Cancer Survivors Talk About Life After Treatment | Tell A Stranger

We invited two strangers to tell their cancer survival story. As teenagers, what were some of the biggest challenges they faced while fighting cancer?

Follow us @participant! 🖤

[alessia]

Last year, at the age of 17 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.I got the surgery and the therapy.I was always the youngest in the waiting room at hospital, I never saw another teenager going through my experience, so I needed this video.Finally I can say that I’m cancer free!

[Yorkylover]

At the age of 16, I found out that I had Lymphoma. My survival rate was less than 10%. After enduring months worth of chemo, I found out I was cancer free. 10 years later, I am healthy and still show no signs of cancer or secondary effects from the chemo. I wished that I had this video back in those days. Nobody really talks about cancer in general, let alone teenage cancer.

[thomasbailey]

Being a teen finished with cancer treatments, this one hit home. Thank you❤️

[lilydove]

I’m a 4 year cancer survivor of leaukemia💪🏻 I would never get rid of my diagnosis because it made me stronger and grateful.

[elizabethkemp]

To the people in the comments sharing their experiences with cancer and the people in the video, I’m proud of y’all. Keep fighting.

[catastrophegirl]

A lot of people think that after surviving cancer, you'll start to live more, and go out there and conquer the world, because heck, you beat cancer. You should be happy and a stronger person they said. What they don't understand are the scars that it left you. The memories of the pain, the fear of going through it again, and the fear that next time you might not survive. The story of the second girl resonated with me so much. Thanks for sharing!

[letterstodaughters]

There can be no courage, unless one is scared.

These teenagers are courageous, amazing, and truly inspirational! Thank you for sharing.

[camillewilliams]

I’m 15 and I’ve survived stage three Wilms Tumor (a kind of kidney cancer) and had to get a kidney removed and was treated with chemo and radiation. This certainly hit home

[lollipopprincess]

At 15 I was diagnosed with a really rare brain tumor. It can never be fully removed and I will have to have surgery every 10-15 years. It’s so scary, I never know what life is going to look like in the future, but I’m hopeful and FORVER grateful to be alive to tell my story.

[faniamuthia]

I just found out that I have 2 tumors in my ovaries a few weeks ago, and now doctors still figuring out what it is.. watching this made me feel less alone as I’m encountering this all by myself while studying abroad
Thank you💖

[safabestandji]

" I think life is definitely not perfect but it's wonderful " i love this so much

[KurlyKinks]

Usually not a person who comments, but can relate to the first teen. I too had Thyroid Ca but as an adult with kids. For me too it was hard. The hardest part was going through 2 rounds of radiation and not having the ability to be around my kids. Depression hit hArd!!! It did pass and through the GRaCE of GOD I have been Cancer free for 4 years. Like the teens in the video I too live life and enjoy it!!! Levothyroxine for the rest of my life isn’t so bad... I’m happy I’m a survivor!!!

[lizrdblizzrd]

cancer survivor of ovarian cancer at age 10 here. its a warming feeling to hear the experiences of others who had cancer at a young age, i never talk of it, most people i feel do not - more of a silent secret we all carry that had its piece in molding our character. i too never tell people, even when they see my scars, i think its because i never wanted it to be my identity, being known as the girl who had cancer. its difficult to tell a new person that bc cancer is such a HEAVY negative word, its hard to just let the words "I had cancer" roll out of your mouth nonchalantly, but its a warm feeling to hear the stories of others. I enjoy these. 9 years cancer free 🖤

[morgandemasellis]

I don’t have or have had cancer, but some members in my family and one of my good friends has/had cancer. These stories touched me even though I didn’t/don’t have cancer. I’m so happy that these girls are healthy now!

[gabbyocchino]

i’m 19 and was just received a life saving surgery after being diagnosed with a rare aggressive form of papillary thyroid cancer stage IV that has spread to my lungs. still currently battling but hopefully will be cancer free soon after radioactive iodine. sadly at this age it’s hard to find someone who can relate to what i’m going through. finally a video that shows this. thank you for this. everyone is a survivor❤️

[ahumanbean]

As a teen cancer survivor, thank you so much for sharing real stories about getting cancer as teen.❤️ I love when the second girl talks about that life after treatment was harder than treatment itself, because I find that the biggest misconception that cancer muggles (that's what I call people who haven't had cancer haha) have is that when we're cancer free/done treatment we're "all good" and that it's behind us, while the reality is most of us struggle just as much if not more after treatment.

[chloegrace]

I’ve had cancer for eleven years, sixteen operations, four rounds of chemical and everyone who can say that they have fought cancer is super lucky

[thelocalchaoticgood]

damn this hit home a lot. when i was 15 i had stage 2 hodgkin’s lymphoma. i was admitted to the PICU bc i was basically on the brink of death, but i responded to treatment rlly well. i’ve been cancer free for 3 years and the anxiety over getting cancer again lessens but it never rlly goes away. however i will say it definitely put things in perspective for me and showed me who my real friends are so i am grateful for that. and to all of u sharing ur experiences with cancer, im so proud of you guys for fighting and surviving. 🎗 #fuckcancer

[craftypenguin]

I never really knew how much I needed this video. Last year at 17, I was diagnosed with stage 3 non-hodgkins lymphoma and It really did kind of take over my life. I had 6 rounds of heavy chemotherapy that lasted each a week long, and to say I spent a lot of time in the hospital was an understatement cause even when I was "home" I still had the medications and the constant check ups from my parents not to mention still having to go back in for labs. But I completely understand the stress from having to go to school and trying to put everything behind you and still have the constant physical memory of the hairloss and the scars to the point where I was off the grid on social media for a while and even skipped my school pictures. Even now as I am more comfortable with myself I still will edit out my scars from pictures, and I know I always had my friends and family but it was always different talking to them because they can only understand so much, so hearing that others went through similar experiences is something I didn't know I really needed to hear.

[smpickes]

I survived a stage 4 cancer when I was 18/19. I heard a quote one time that I definitely think about often ...."You don't have to be dying to start living". I definitely look at life differently now. I travel a lot, eat all different foods, and really never say no to a new idea/adventure. Life is short.