Forced Realities and Choices

Experiencing a serious health event, like a cancer diagnosis, can change a person's priorities, decisions, and overall life path. Young adults with cancer experience different obstacles as they undergo uncontrollable life changes due to their diagnosis and treatment. So how can young adults continue to move forward with cancer influencing their decisions and life trajectory?

Life on Pause is a podcast created by and for young adults living with cancer. In this episode, our speakers discuss the forced realities and changes that come with cancer. Together, they speak on their encounters dealing with the inevitable aspects of their cancer experiences and how those factors continue to influence them today. Listen in to hear these young adults share stories about living and coping with the parts of the cancer journey that were beyond their control.

The forced realities of cancer treatment (0:08) 

When people are diagnosed with cancer, their lives can change significantly. Suddenly health becomes your top priority above all else, and you must live your life around the purpose of getting better. This episode of Life on Pause begins with a discussion of the forced realities that cancer patients must accept when in treatment. The special guests introduce themselves and share their experiences with the forced realities of cancer treatment and the things they have lost control over due to their cancer diagnosis.

Advice vs. Choice (9:42)

Young adulthood can be an exciting time for people to venture out into the world and take the reins of life into their own hands. But, of course, this can mean choosing not to listen to or follow guidance from authority figures. Within this segment of the show, our speakers share their examples and insight on how this applies to their lives as young adults with cancer. 

Privacy and treatment (14:47)

Cancer can bring many changes to people's physical appearance that are hard to ignore. While some friends and relatives may wish to ask about these health changes out of concern, it can feel like a loss of privacy for cancer treatment patients. Handling unsolicited comments and questions about personal health matters can be uncomfortable, but for our guest speakers, it is just another part of life brought on by their diagnosis. Listen as they share their thoughts on how the loss of privacy is a new forced feature of their lives throughout their cancer journey.

Feeling obligated to share your story (24:57)

Experiencing a significant health event can attract attention and curiosity from others. But with health being such a personal subject, questions and discussions surrounding a cancer diagnosis can feel uncomfortable and disrespectful to the patient's privacy. Guest speakers discuss their experiences with the societal pressures of feeling obligated to be open about their experiences. They also discuss how they navigate tough subjects and honesty when speaking about their health to others and the responsibility of "putting on a brave face" for other people's comfort.

How Cancer Experience Shapes Decisions (32:43)

When experiencing cancer treatments, patients dedicate their focus and actions toward their health recovery. But after the treatments end, how do patients move forward when their health is no longer in critical condition? When the fear for their health no longer dictates their decisions, young adults with cancer must relearn how to function and make choices for their personal life progression. Our speakers discuss how the choices that they made during and after treatment were influenced by their cancer diagnosis. They also discuss how their cancer experience has shaped the choices that they make now and how they push themselves to make choices and pursue the right path for their well-being.

Working With the Nervous System (42:11)

A person's nervous system functions to support and protect them. However, the nervous systems of young adults with cancer may react differently as a result of their treatments. And while these people may recognize that they have choices, their cancer experience still informs their decisions. As a result, they may feel uncomfortable taking even smaller risks and approach situations from a place of caution. Today's speakers discuss how their cancer experience has influenced their life choices and stepping outside their comfort zones.

Life After Treatment (47:41)

Once cancer treatment ends, the cancer journey continues. For people who have experienced it, cancer becomes an ongoing consideration even after their recovery. Their health thought processes, and overall lives have been flavored by your cancer experience. The podcast guests discuss their views on how cancer "never ends" and what this continuation means concerning how they will continue to live their lives moving forward. Finally, they discuss how their cancer has impacted their ability to relate to others and feel understood.