Life Interrupted: The Reality of a Cancer Diagnosis in Your 20s

Cancer can come for anyone, no matter what age they are. It’s heartbreaking, but even children and young adults get cancer. Cancer doesn’t discriminate; unfortunately, it can happen to anyone.

"But you're too young for cancer"

When I was 25 years old, my ex felt a lump in my left breast. When seeking out answers to what was going on, I heard a lot of, “You’re too young for cancer!”

Well, turns out, I wasn’t. I was in my early 20s, with no family history. My genetic testing was clear, too. This was a random event. I was one of the youngest people in the cancer clinic.

So, what’s it like having cancer steal your youth?

How cancer puts your life on hold

Career milestones on hold

I had to put my career on hold. I had just finished advanced training for my salon. I was filling my schedule and making decent money. Stopping was hard. When I was ready to work again, I had to start over.

While I lost my hair, my friends and coworkers got raises at the salon. I lived at my mom’s house and got sick every single day. My friends got apartments, pets, and engaged. I canceled every travel plan, while they saw the world.

Unexpected moments and future plans

Not only did cancer come for my 20s, it also gave me a surprise baby. This made things more complex. I love being a mom, but at the time, it wasn’t in my future plans. The birth halted treatment, pushing back radiation and chemo plans almost a month. I spent time healing from a traumatic birth. I was also arguing with insurance about medications and going to a lot of follow-up appointments.

When cancer comes back

I slowly pieced my life back together for a few years, only to have it snatched again by cancer. At 31, I had just closed on my first house. A few months prior, I had bought a car with a payment for the first time. A medical bankruptcy had just cleared from my record, and I was planning to expand my family with my partner.

All of that came to a screeching halt when my oncologist told me I was stage 4. A person’s 30s should be their prime. I was supposed to stay in the house I bought, and I should have a bigger family by now. Instead, I am planning my end of life.
I am clinging to the time that I have to be able to spend it with my wife and kid. I am trying to live a normal life while also balancing life with cancer.

The daily balancing act

This kind of life is not easy. There are countless appointments, treatment changes, and so much more. Every day, I try to live as normal a life as I can. The balance is really, really tough. There is so much that cancer steals from a person, and being a young person living with cancer is especially hard. There was supposed to be so much to look forward to.