I'm a cancer patient.

I was diagnosed at 17 and am currently 19 and dealing with a possible recurrence. They don't know if the spots in my lungs are related to my cancer or the virus and pneumonia I've currently got.

I deal with it by focusing on one day at a time, but also keeping my long term goals in my mind. As an example, today I'll be focusing on getting through some online lectures, with my end goal of becoming a vet to keep me motivated.

I told my friends over our Snapchat group chat because I couldn't say it without breaking down. I made sure it was a time when they weren't at school/work. For me, it has changed my daily life completely because my diagnosis was bone cancer. I had 6 rounds of intense chemo, 36 weeks of a drug called mifamurtide, and an amputation of my entire left leg from the hip. As you can imagine, becoming an amputee changes everything about your daily life and how you do things. It hasn't changed my plans for the future though, just delayed them a bit. I had to quit my after-school job when I was diagnosed. I worked in a factory, so it was a very physical job, and I could barely walk by the time I was diagnosed. My tumor also shattered my femur and left me bedridden so there's that too. Chemo affects everyone differently, and there are so many different types. Sorry you're going through this.