Read what young adult survivors of cancer are saying about the need for support for this growing population.
Heather, 28
I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, when I was 21 – three months shy of graduating from college. Cancer certainly wasn’t part of my graduation plans…of course who plans cancer? No one adds “getting cancer” to your list of life aspirations. I was blessed to have wonderful family, friends, doctors and nurses support me during 13 months of chemo and a surgery to remove my femur and tumor. After treatment, as I struggled to find my place in the “post-cancer world” I was now a part of, I felt frustration at the lack of information and support for young adult cancer survivors.Not only are we facing challenges of cancer treatment and associated issues and side effects, we also face the “typical” challenges of finding careers, dating, financial concerns, gaining independence from our parents and more.There are many resources available for children and adult cancers, yet so precious few for young adult survivors. The SAMFund will help fill that void and provide much needed support and resources for this ever-growing population.
Christopher, 23
I was diagnosed with cancer right before my 15th birthday, and due to the strenuous chemotherapy I endured, I was unable to attend much of high school. I kept up with my grades through home instruction, but it wasn't the same. I learned the books, but I missed out on most of the social aspects of high school that would normally make a young man grow. When I graduated from high school I felt I was not prepared for the next step of my life. Not because of the schooling itself, but because I wasn't ready for real life.
Going to college, I did receive some scholarships from my high school that helped with college tuition. But like all college students I needed money to get by with, money to get me back and forth to school and just something to survive on. I began working, and not too long after, I was working all the time. I found myself skipping classes to get more hours in at different jobs for little pay.
The next year, I decided to skip college to work full time, not realizing that in doing so I would lose my father's insurance. I went for a year without insurance, and to this day I am very thankful that I didn't get sick.
The year after that, I registered for my courses, to get the receipt, fax it to the insurance company, and get the insurance I needed. I was trying to make it through the classes, but most of the time I would only finish one or two in a semester. That didn't matter, though, because I had insurance. I am glad I took the classes I did, because I really do enjoy learning.
I never finished college, but a couple years later I found my niche in life. I have a great job that pays me very well, provides me with the best benefits I could ask for, and is willing to pay for part of college when I choose to go back.
Sometimes when you go through something so completely life altering, at a stage of your life that is crucial, you need a little break. I, just like other survivors didn't get high school, and I certainly didn't get a break. My brain was overloaded, my body was beaten up, and if I didn't scam for insurance, I would have been left out in the cold like many cancer survivors are.
If I had a SAMFund when I needed it, I would have been able to concentrate more on my classes and not on, "How am I going to pay this bill?" Thanks to The SAMFund, survivors will now be able to concentrate on their lives and their futures more than ever before.
Tanya, 27
I have a very original cancer story; I was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma a type of bone cancer at age 7. I went through surgery to remove part of my left fibula bone, as well as high dose chemotherapy. After going through all of this for about a year I was in remission. About a month and a half before my 24th birthday I was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. I felt like I was the only young adult in the world that had cancer as a child and was now diagnosed again. Oddly enough my leukemia was in no way related to my bone cancer 16 years prior. Now I had to face cancer all over again, except this time I felt alone. I didn’t know where to turn, or who would understand. I searched the Internet for organizations that could help me, financially or emotionally. I came up empty handed. Only after my social worker would give me stuff to read did I realize there were a couple organizations out there willing to help young adults.
To this day there are very few organizations that pride themselves on helping young adults who have been touched by cancer. Just try to imagine: trying to move out of your parents house, go to college, work, and maintain a social life then get diagnosed… all of a sudden everything stops. Young adults need this type of support and assistance to help us through. We need to know that we are not the only young adults who are trying to cope with cancer.
I am currently in remission for both my bone cancer and AML, I also life everyday with congestive heart failure from my chemotherapy treatments. On the bright side, I am a full time college student majoring in Social Work, working part-time, as well as going to regular doctor appointments.
Rebecca, 30
I was 24 when diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. I had graduated from college and spent more than two years in the workforce by then. But really - who has their life in order by 24? Or is prepared to face tests and biopsies, chemo and radiation when they should be out making their way in the world, partying and falling in love?
Fortunately, I was able to keep working nearly full time through the chemo treatments and even started graduate school during radiation. I was really lucky to have an employer who extended my health benefits through a "leave of absence" while in school and I was able to find employment shortly thereafter with great benefits.
I had a tremendous amount of support from my family and friends - and their friends and family. My husband of more than four years even proposed to me when I was bald. I now have a great job, a beautiful house and I've been cancer free for more than five years.
So, what could The SAMFund have done for me? The best thing would have been to let me know that I wasn't the only young person facing cancer. I met lots of great people from the chemo chair - but none less than twice my age.
And I am very aware of just how lucky I was with an employer who went WAY above and beyond the call of duty. I was also helped by the fact that my mom is a benefits administrator who worked with the same insurance company that I had. Health insurance easily could have become a major obstacle to graduate school - and the life I've built since then.
I'm sure there are lots of people who aren't as lucky - and The SAMFund could help more young adults overcome the extra obstacles of cancer to build adult lives as blessed as mine.
Lisa, 29
I had cancer, Leukemia, at a young age. I was treated at age 6 and in remission by age 7. I was lucky enough to have the full support of my parents before, during and after being sick.
After college, I immediately got a job and started supporting myself. Since I never had a break in insurance, I was never denied. However, I was recently laid off and insurance became a big deal to me.
If I let it lapse, there's a possibility I could never be covered again since I am a cancer survivor.
I would most likely be denied insurance that was not through a job. So, the only option was the very expensive Cobra insurance. It's draining my savings, but it's my only choice and better than the alternative.
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