Facing Cancer in Your 20s - Life, Interrupted | The New York Times

Suleika Jaouad, a writer and recent college graduate, is chronicling her experiences as a young adult with cancer in a new weekly column.
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Facing Cancer in Your 20s - Life, Interrupted
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[@bornbillsmith]

Don't put your life on hold. My brother lived 6 years after being diagnosed. For most of that time he held a job(he needed the insurance) but because he was weak he was unable to do little else when he came home. He should have conserved his energy and did things that made him happy. Live every day as it could be your last Don't let the cancer stop you from enjoying life..

[@jasonstatham2966]

I am happy to know she survived! She is a survivor :)

[@kathrynwitte3398]

It’s back with a vengeance- and she just married Jon Batiste, despite the recurrence.

[@fkmyoutube]

Anyone here from Between Two Kingdoms Book?

[@dondressel452]

Life is unpredictable You never know what will come into your life Suffering from cancer at such a young age Is terrible I have cancer but I’m 64 I’ve lived most of my life

[@funkyflights]

This is why the USA needs universal healthcare, illness can find anyone of us at any moment...

[@patriciapoppy9570]

Universal health care are you crazy!! I have friends in uk by the time you get scan you become stage 4 .. don’t even joke about that ... that is why people come here!!!

[@Peacevk]

@@patriciapoppy9570 what you talking about, what happen when you don´t have any health care in the US you don´t get treatment.

[@tonygirard3307]

Bless your heart. Stay strong and get better!

[@linday2009]

Wow, she is a young girl that has to pass through all this. You are strong suleika you will get hill, be optimist and positive. God bless you

[@naomi6973]

Much love to her and her family.

[@pilarch1075]

i feel so identified with her feelings, im 27 and my cancer is back, i feel like i am un a stop in my life and i rlly hate how it takes my independency, i really do and sometimes family cant understand even if you try yo say it

[@igeorgoudi]

I hope you overcome your condition and be well . All my wishes are with you.

[@HermanPetrov]

Speechless.

[@carlosjimenezflute]

Bless you Suleika

[@GIguy]

PS - to all cancer patients reading this, I need to ask you something that happened to me so many times after I was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was so strange, since I was diagnosed, all the people that I loved started walking on egg shells around me, many avoided me all together, they act terrified as if cancer was something they could catch, did this happen to you as well? I’ve had cancer three times now, and each time it happened The same way. I tell people I have cancer, and they all back away from me like I’m carrying the plague or something, at first I didn’t understand it so hurt at a time when I was so desperate for support. My immediate family of course were there for me 24 seven, but my closest friends were afraid to talk to me, and at first they took it as an insult. But every time I realize what was the real problem, people are so afraid of saying the wrong thing around me, fearing that I would fall to pieces, that they just stayed away altogether, instead of speaking with me. After my second bout with cancer, I spoke to Gary Frank and honestly to my loved ones, and told him not to be afraid to speak with me, that I’m not going to fall apart if you mention the word cancer. I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve, and I’m definitely not shy about telling people about my problems in life. So the third time I relapsed, everybody talk to me like they normally did, and that was probably the easiest relapse I ever had, although physically it was the most devastating and painful, mentally it was wonderful to have all the support back, and to finally understand that it wasn’t because I didn’t care, quite the opposite, they care too much. So I ask you all again, did this happen to you too? If so, I highly recommend just talking to your family and loved ones like I did, put it out in the open, and I guarantee you, you’re certainly come around and be more loving and caring than ever before.

[@lindabrown6545]

TJ Devereaux I have been in a near fatal car accident which necessitated 3 major surgeries. For the last 25 years I have lived in fairly serious pain. After 12 years I stepped down from my passion (Professor of Nusing). Much of what you describe I believe comes from living in a society where, when difficult things happen, we have lost the language or ability to sit in the moment to just listen to another's journey. I have a friend whose sons were killed, the first at birth & the second at age 15. She & I have preserved their memory in our open & honest conversations when we see each other. When my son married, I made sure to tell that her son was with us on that day &we both cried. In your situation, people back away for several possible reasons: they do not know what to say; they do not want to say the wrong thing; you are a living reminder of their own mortality; you may remind them of a loved one that they are still trying to cope with; your existence forces them to face their own mortality. I would strongly encourage you to identify 1 or 2 of your CLOSEST friends or family members & begin a dialog on creating an authentic way of conversing with each other. I say authentic because how you feel & how they feel should be expressed, examined, BUT NOT JUDGED!!! Further, find the humor in the ridiculous situations you now find yourself in. For example, my family cared for my mother who had Alzheimer's. When she would grab a handful of kitty nuggets and throw it into her yogurt (she thought it was fiber I suppose), my kids would say, "eew grandmom"! I would turn to my mom and say, "Mom, you are one of the most amazing people I have ever known"! Right on cue she would then say,"that's me, amazing Grace"! (Her name was Grace). At her words, my family would get to laughing & no one would be concerned about the cat food. At a later time I would talk to my kids & explain why their grandmother would act in curious ways. Never loose your sense of humor while you live on Earth School! All my love & prayers to you, Lin

[@marcushester2312]

TJ Devereaux how are u doing now days and whats ur progress. hope ur doing just fine

[@KingVikram]

Hope you get to do everything in life that you wished for, Suleika.

[@1805movie]

There once was a guy named Edd Gould. He was the creator of the popular internet series "Eddsworld". He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2006. Edd had to animate from his hospital bed. He fought back and was cancer free for five years. But in 2011 his cancer came back and after a year long battle, Edd passed away at the age of 23 on March 25th, 2012. He inspired hundreds of thousands of people who watched "Eddsworld" to go into animation and pursue their passions.

[@salgzz2232]

I'm so sorry you had to go threw that God bless you You are a strong women 💪

[@bzylizzy]

Stunning girl, cancer couldnt take away her looks, (even with her head shaved) good luck to her and thanks for sharing...

[@gingermeeder]

A beautiful young spirit whom I in hopes along w/that fighting spirit & her body beat it gone! Peace & sending vibes of strength & the ability to fight even harder....

[@jwoodard621]

Your so brave wish you get better

[@movementsNYC]

All the Best to Her NYC

[@marcoaslan]

McDonalds advertisement right before this video. Isn’t life funny? :/

[@daisyguzman8481]

God bless

[@bzylizzy]

agreed...

[@bornbillsmith]

There is no cure for love and there is no cure for cancer. It's ongoing battle that you will not win but if you fight you won't be defeated either.

[@magneticwaves3964]

omg..shes so beautiful..

[@watchmore4109]

Please tell her about this cure!!

[@XChristmasManX]

I am not sure if you are being sarcastic or serious, but it really does exist.

[@KirbyPwnz13]

And here I am bitching about failing a damn exam... God speed to you brave one.

[@charlestsebesta7812]

Interesting

[@fendularatsq2317]

i agree, such tasteless use of music and editing

[@fcinternetmarketing]

Really sad.

[@bornbillsmith]

We all die and the fact you have cancer only means you will die at a young age but while I haven't had cancer my brother died of brain cancer and I have some words of advice. My brother kept everything ro himself. He even told his doctor not to tell me or my mother what was happenning and this was even after he was told the chemo wasn't working. You have to let the people who are close to you know what you are going thru. For tweo reasons.

[@user-up5fc9yp4p]

What song is in the background

[@bornbillsmith]

one for your sake. You will need their help and if they don't know hen they can't help[. two for their sake. You might think you are a burden now and you are but just imagine how they will feel after you are dead and they know or at least believe they could have helped even more. Do not take this lightly. My mother was unable to cope after my brother died and while I think he was trying to protect her in the end it actually hurt her.

[@ele143]

she already knows. that's what she's at the hospital for.

[@podfun]

Wow so So so inspiring that I had to stop the video to cry because I know there is no longer hope for me at all colon cancer and Wells Fargo Bank took my safety and my home illegally but without money and medical bills even though you built by hand your own home and the homes in the neighborhood and the golf courses and was the sole purpose of la quaint belt Thanks for my grandparents before I was born but now completely homeless and massive seizure without medication Cancer no friends no body wants anything to do with me I was 320 pounds not 6 foot 7 and few nights ago at the hospital was weighed at 144 pounds and told well some people make it not your your basically screwed without insurance so and once again still nothing they can do to help me and told go home and die but just smoke pot and you might have a chance I wish I could afford that I wish there was some type of charity to help me get medical marijuana it really does stop and help if the pain at least some of the pain and all the bleeding and seizures and makes me want to eat totally and helps with my bipolar but I don't really have anyway of getting better and I have a story to and I want to share it with the world but I wow cancer really does take everything out of you and make things that you love doing impossible in so many ways than one more people that are going through this type of illness need to speak out thank you so much for taking your time your story I'm going to finish playing your video I hope things turn out better for you I know it sounds crazy but maybe can you can look into medical marijuana that's the only thing that's helping me and I'm license where I'm at so I know if it's helping me help somebody else so just wanted to pass it along thank you very much for your video I will play the rest of it and probably cry some more because of how open and inspiration and how much I can connect tell your story so far thank you for taking the time sharing because people have to see it in order for it to be real sometime and I swear to God I wish this thing ever because cancer is the worst word in the world

[@lostandfound625]

She survived the cancer :)

[@OrpheeLkcs]

haaa it was disgusting, from the way they film it you know!!!!!!...HATE this newspare !!!!

[@earlmccoubrey7580]

Many of these cases are cured. My wife was cured of bone marrow cancer. Please study starving cancer by changing diet. Diet and lifestyle make a big diff.