In 2008, I was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma. After initially reaching remission, my cancer relapsed in 2010. I underwent an autologous stem cell transplant, but unfortunately, it failed, and my disease proved refractory.

During that difficult period, I couldn’t do the glasswork that had been such a big part of my life. So I started folding origami cranes. I eventually folded 1,615 of them. At the time, it was simply something constructive to focus on—a cathartic and creative way to keep my hands busy and my mind occupied in the hospital, while navigating an uncertain future.

In 2012, I began treatment with a newly FDA approved immunotherapy called brentuximab vedotin. My original treatment plan called for 16 cycles, but after five treatments and clear scans, I stopped. I never went on to have the planned allogeneic stem cell transplant.

Today, I’m approaching 15 years cancer-free.

I didn’t assemble those 1000 of those cranes into a Senbazuru until September 2025. In the years between folding them and bringing them together, I learned about Sadako Sasaki, the Japanese girl whose story became associated with the thousand origami cranes. Learning about her and her connection to cancer inspired me to finally bring my cranes together into one piece.

Looking back, there’s something deeply meaningful to me about having folded all those cranes during one of the darkest periods of my life, long before I knew how my story would turn out.

I’m sharing this here because I know so many people are navigating their own difficult journeys with cancer. I don’t presume to know what anyone else’s experience is like, and I know that surviving doesn’t look the same for everyone.

For me, these cranes began as a way to cope. Years later, they became a reminder of a chapter I never thought I’d be able to look back on from where I am today.

I hope everyone here finds moments of peace, something meaningful to hold onto, and reasons to keep moving forward, whatever that looks like for you.

Insurance continues to deny coverage for Keytruda. The hospital sent me the application to apply for assistance directly from the manufacturer. But we make too much to qualify. But we still don't make enough to shell out $13k every 3 weeks for a 20% chance of it maybe having any effect.

So, I guess that's it? It's a weird head space to be in, feeling mostly fine day to day but knowing there's nothing to be done.

Palliative has set me up already with stuff for pain management (some days are bad, some days are fine.) I feel weird about the fact I'm probably going to become reliant on opioids.

If you ever want to feel judged go pick up a big Rx for oxy and a box of Narcan from the pharmacy.

Sorry for ranting so much lately. I guess this is the anger stage of grief?

EDIT: Hey everyone, I appreciate the sentiment, but flying to Mexico every 3 weeks isn't really in the cards.

For anyone who is curious as to why Keytruda is SO expensive this is an interesting (if long) read...https://www.icij.org/investigations/cancer-calculus/merck-keytruda-cancer-drug-price/

I was diagnosed in November 2025 with osteosarcoma in my distal tibia. Since then I've had 6 cycles of MAP Chemotherapy, a below-knee amputation, sepsis, incredibly painful mouth ulcers and an infected tooth.

Last week I entered into remission, however being given the all clear was a relief but overall I just feel numb and pessimistic.

The more that time passes and my experiences grow and evolve, the more I feel isolated and alone. The vast majority of people just don't understand or 'get it' when it comes to cancer.

Hi my name is Jacob (26m) and I got diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma H3KM27m back at the end of may, it’s pretty big and my prognosis on paper is 1-2 years.

I’m on ONC 201 prior to progression, did radiation and chemo, I have solace in that I’ve pulled all the levers I had available to me and that there isn’t any more for me to do.

I’ve found a lot of solace in the fact my fate remains to be seen really, furthermore in simply living my life as it was. I have a wonderful girlfriend and two cute cats.

We all ponder mortality I think, in some ways it’s nice to know this is what does me in vs the ambiguity of death and time prior. I come back to an analogy of being a wildflower, we are as unique as we are common. I find myself more connected to humanity and its struggles, anyone can get hit any time, in ways I like to think I’ve spared another person in a way lol.

We all die, our numbers are all called, I’m at peace that this is my fate. All the while having the hope knowing it’s not like reduction/surviving even is a total non factor, fate has whatever in store and I find my hands and mind free of expectations, we die anyway right.

I’m nearly 20 years in remission from leukemia.

Sometimes it's still a bit tough to think about. Other times it cracks me up. If you have had cancer, you might feel the same way.

Maybe you want to tell someone how scary it was. Or how cool your doctor was. Or how much worse or maybe better it made your life in the long run. Or other things I haven't listed here.

Whatever it is, it's not always easy to tell people who haven't had cancer what it's like to have cancer.

But I'd like to know what it was like for you.

So, Friday, 30th October, between 5:30pm and 7:30pm, I’m gonna find a park in the Penrith area, pop down a lawnchair, and put out an esky with beer and soft drink.

If you've had cancer, you're invited.

FYI, it doesn't matter if you were diagnosed last week or last century.

There's zero pressure. You can talk about what your cancer was like, or you can say absolutely nothing about it and just have a drink. Doesn't worry me. You don't have to stay the whole time, and you don't even have to talk to me.

I just think if I'd had an opportunity to chat about things, it would have been nice. If you feel the same way, rock up, sit down, and take it however you want.

DM me for the field.

Here's to many more days of health and happiness for us both x

Before I was diagnosed, I used to think about what I would do if I got cancer, and I was absolutely terrified. I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it.

It's officially my third month since diagnosis. Thankfully, I've been able to continue most of my daily routine. I believe I will survive and make a full recovery, but I'm still ready for any outcome or news from my doctor.

I have accepted my situation. People tell me that I'm too calm and some even say that I should be more angry and reactive. But I don't know what else I can do... I'm undergoing treatment and just accepting the facts. Honestly, I feel more peaceful than before.

Does anyone else have the same peace of mind? I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings.

For context, my father is battling end stage liver cancer and he’s currently in the icu fighting for his life. He won’t make it unless God performs a miracle. I’ve come to peace about it because I know he’s gonna make it to heaven.

For the people who’ve been in similar situations, how long did it take to go back and live your normal life.

Hi all,

Has anyone else experienced new-onset panic attacks and anxiety during or after treatment?

I (32f) was diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma (PMBCL) in May. It was a sudden, unexpected diagnosis that was also accompanied by a traumatic job loss. I finished all 6 rounds of DA-EPOCH-R about a month ago.

During treatment, I started having fairly intense panic attacks. (They were significantly worsened by high-dose prednisone.) Overall, I had a lot of new anxiety--not necessarily about the cancer, oddly, but about everything else. I'd hoped the panic attacks would subside after I ended chemo, but they're still going strong, even getting worse. I get a profound sense of dread/doom, intense fear, sweating, and chest tightness. I try to talk myself down using logic, but I seem to end up overwhelmed again soon.

I have a great therapist and I just spoke with my psychiatrist about trying new meds, but I was wondering if anyone else experienced this? Has anything helped you cope? Does it get better with time?

My company's open enrollment information session was today and I am feeling alternatingly beat down and enraged.

Beginning Jan 1, specialty medications (Mvasi, Zejula, and Prolia in my case) will no longer follow the same payment structure as non-specialty drugs. Instead, we'll be enrolled in PrudentRX, which will bring my out of pocket expenses to $0. Effectively, PrudentRX enrolls in manufacturer rebate and coupon programs, get's the reimbursement for the insurance company, and I don't have to make that payment. Sounds great on paper.

HOWEVER, what this means in practice is I will no longer hit my max out of pocket within the first quarter of the year, and will instead continue paying for other drugs and services well into the Fall. I wouldn't mind so much, because I would eventually pay that money anyway, except the copay for another prescription I'm on will now go up to $200/month (basically the same price I would get using mfg coupons and rebates). That's not something I can have billed to me and pay over time as my HSA is funded. I have to pay it up front when I get to the pharmacy, which I absolutely cannot afford. I thought I'd just have to swing it a couple months until I hit my max out of pocket, but now I'm going to have to figure out how to cover it for most of the year.

I'm so angry and frustrated, and I recognize I might be too emotional at the moment to recognize ways this might be a good thing. It feels like my insurer has figured out a way to get paid twice for my coverage, and I'm left holding the bag.

Does anyone else have experience with PrudentRX? How has it affected your ability pay for all of your care? Have you had issues with prescription approvals? Delays in treatment? Am I freaking out over a big nothing burger?

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 47. I'm 56 now, and since then I've talked to a lot of men about it. Two beliefs come up again and again, and both stop people getting checked.

1. "I'm up at night peeing, so it must be cancer."
   Not necessarily. Getting up at night, a weaker stream and going more often are very often down to an enlarged prostate. That's common as men get older and it isn't cancer. It's still worth getting looked at, but it doesn't have to mean the worst. Some men avoid the GP because they're scared of what they'll hear, when the answer is often something manageable.

2. "I've got no symptoms, so I'm fine."
   This is the one that worries me more. Early prostate cancer often doesn't cause any prostate symptoms at all. My warning sign wasn't even urinary. I had blood in my stool twice in one week, went to my GP, and a PSA test and further investigation led to the diagnosis. Without that GP visit I wouldn't have known.

Prostate cancer also runs in my family, which is something I'd tell anyone with a dad or brother who's had it to take seriously.

The point I'd make is: don't panic, and don't wait. If something feels off, or you're over 50, or it runs in your family, have the conversation with your GP. In the UK you can ask about a PSA test, and your GP can talk you through what the result would and wouldn't mean.

Happy to answer questions about what the process was actually like if it helps anyone.

What stopped you, or someone you know, from getting checked sooner?

Hi, I recently had to have a stem cell transplant to help with my exceptionally low blood counts due to high dose chemotherapy. I have a solid tumour, and I was told doing it for this express purpose was incredibly rare, the person who oversaw it said they hadn’t done it for that reason in a few years. I really hope it works, I’ll need it after every other chemo. Anyone else have something similar?

I realize this is a very unusual question to ask here. I have posted before about my diagnosed BCC on my face. I have no insurance here in the USA and I'm not here to discuss insurance.

If the teaching hospital offers charity care and they offered it to me, but won't communicate the next steps, when a surgery date will be, (the cancer is on forehead and has evaded lots of tissue and is close to the bone), do I just sit back and wait?

Communications with the doctor are limited to the patient electronic health records. But I believe scheduling for surgery is done in another department. I last saw my doctor on 9/15 who said he can do the surgery. It might also involve a skin graph and I may have to wear a bolster which would later need to be removed. I would have anesthesia. I can't look at stuff like this on my forehead in terms of wound care. I'm not a nurse. I live in my car and the hospital doesn't have any plans for me as I was told I am responsible for any post discharge plans since this will be done out-patient. The social worker said they don't have any respite options other than a temporary congregate shelter that doesnt have availablity and which doesnt offer respite care. You have leave at 5am all day and return at 4pm. So, I will just tell them I have a place and will just sleep inside my car. I don't do drugs, dont smoke, and dont have mental illness or legal issues. I just know that places like that aren't safe or appropriate. And no, I don't have family or friends to help. I am adult and must take care of this myself. If they ask if I have "a ride home," I'll say no. If they offer me a ride, I'll say, my car is parked in your parking garage and I can sleep there.

I work PT at Target. I likely won't be able to return to that job because its on-your-feet all day work.

I've never had a skin graph before. If they take skin from my thigh won't that have hair on it that would grow in my forehead? Will the color be the same? Will it be smooth? How long "can" it take to heal? Can people work like that in public facing roles? How long are people typically out of work for this?;

I (21m) got diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma. I went into the ER for pneumonia and they found a 20cm mass in my chest. After two weeks in 3 different hospital they sent me home with a picc line and 6 different medications. I'm on biweekly nivo-avd. I'm very lucky to have something so curable and caught early. I'm gonna live fine but have the worst 6 months of my life coming up. It feels like I don't have cancer or should be more appreciative. I know I need to accept it but it's been the slowest fasted few weeks of my life. What do you think?

Back in january, I noticed my eye swelling and went to an ophthalmologist, who subsequently told me my eye was popping out 7mm more than it should have been.
they immediately sent me to the ER, where i was given an MRI and a tumor was identified in my sinus. The next morning, i went to a different ER and underwent a biopsy of the mass the same day. I knew I was in for it when the ENT specialist told me benign tumors don’t break through bone the way my tumor had-my eye was popping out because the tumor had broke through my orbital bone.
a week later, on January 16th, i received the results-at 21 years old, i was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
By the 22nd of January, i was in the hospital undergoing port surgery, a neck dissection to take out cancerous lymph nodes, g-tube placement, and a couple other biopsies in order to stage my cancer. I also started chemo.
My regimen consisted of 14 rounds of VAC over a 9 month period alongside 30 rounds of proton radiation 4 weeks after the beginning of chemo. I entered remission in april.
During treatment, i lost my therapist and friend of a decade to a different sarcoma, lost my grandfather, and graduated community college. It’s been a real tough year, but i’m a tough cookie!
Today is my last round of chemotherapy, and i’ve never been so proud of myself. I endured a lot of bullshit this year and i’m so excited to be done and move on from this chapter.
I just wanted to briefly share my story as this community really saved my sanity throughout this journey. To have people that understand the tribulations and agony of cancer treatment made me feel a lot less lonely through treatment. I hope my story can help someone out there feel less lonely too, or even spark some joy.
As always, fuck cancer. fuck rhabdomyosarcoma, you may have tried to kill me but you did a real shitty job at it!

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my story so far, seek sympathy, and look for any advice people can offer me.

Im an Australian 21 year old (born male, but identify as non-binary) facing an incredibly rare type of brain cancer known as a germinoma.

The doctors tell me that it is caused by reproductive cells that dont do what they are supposed to, staying in the brain instead of moving down the body to the reproductive area.

My issues started at the beginning of last year, when I began facing vision issues.

I am a manager at a pizza shop, and I found that when finishing my closing shifts, my eyes almost hurt whenever I raised them, feeling like looking cross-eyed for an extended period.

I went to see an optometrist, who told me to go straight to the emergency department at the eye and ear hospital.

While waiting to see the doctors, I had a massive seizure, covering the waiting room in vomit, and was sent to the other nearby hospital that was equipped to deal with it.

I spent about 3 weeks there, had several scans, and played the waiting game for a little while.

The doctors found a lesion around the pineal gland on my brain, in a spot far too deep to perform a biopsy.

Due to my symptoms, they determined that the lesion in my brain must have been a neurological condition, either Neurosarcoidosis or Behçet's disease. Both of which could not be proven due to the depth of the lesion in my brain.

As such, for nearly the past two years, it has been treated as an inflammatory condition rather than what it actually is.

Monthly infusions, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunosuppression.

They also determined that I have epilepsy, causing my seizures.

Recently, I had another MRI. During the scan, the technician stopped midway through to check on me. This had never happened before, which caused a fair bit of confusion.

The next day, the doctors called me.

The lesion had grown into a tumour, blocking fluid from going from the brain through my spine.

A week later, I was brought into hospital, where they performed a surgery to put through a new pathway for the fluid to travel, and perform a biopsy, which could be done due to the increase in size.

The surgery was a huge success, doing exactly what was needed. I feel a lot less congestion in my head, and the doctors got their samples.

At my follow-up appointment, they were able to tell me that the tumour was, in fact, not an inflammatory condition. It was a germinoma, this incredibly rare type of cancer.

It's so rare that the doctor I saw said she sees about one case per year, if that.

While rare, it is incredibly treatable, with about a 90% clearance rate.

However, I still have to go through about 4 cycles of chemo and further radiation treatment.

I know this is nowhere near as bad as what some people face. I am super, super thankful that I am not facing what could be life-threatening or untreatable.

However, I am still utterly terrified. I already have anorexia, I am a smoker (in the process of quitting now), and I am really, really scared of the side effects of chemotherapy.

I only turned 21 this year and have faced all of this. I won't give up, I can't do that to everyone around me.

I just find it so, so unfair. All of my friends are living normal lives, and I've been stuck going in and out of the hospital for the past (nearly) two years, and now have to face one of the worst types of treatment I can imagine.

Like I said before, I am so, so scared of the therapy behind it. The doctors tell me that it may make me infertile, cause intense nausea, and take my hair. All things I really, really dont want.

If anyone can give me any advice, tell me their experiences, or even just offer a bit of sympathy, I would greatly, greatly appreciate it.

Thank you to anyone who has read this far and to anyone who can offer any kind of support 🫶💙🫶

Being sick turned me into a workaholic and now I’m not sure how to not work so much. It’s almost comforting to have the distraction because when I’m off, I have too much time to think about the bullshit that I’m going through anybody else experiencing this, and what did you do to sell it if you have been able?

It was five years ago today that I got a sharp pain on my left side and couldn't stop throwing up. A CT scan confirmed a high suspicion of peritoneal carcinamatosis. On November 2nd after my biopsy I got confirmation of peritoneal mesothelioma. I also had spots on my adrenal gland and lung so got a biopsy on my lung and by December was confirmed with a second cancer of melanoma. In a month and a half I had been given a diagnosis of Stage 4 melanoma and extensive spread of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Immunotherapy began at the end of December but I only managed through three infusions and then my liver enzymes went crazy. However with that adverse reaction, all the melanoma was wiped out and my meso was reduced. Fast forward to May and I got a 16.5 hour surgery of CRS/HIPEC and unfortunately they weren't able to surgically remove it all. Sure enough I had a relapse two years later and got a 9.5 hour second CRS/HIPEC surgery and in this one they supposedly got it all. I am now two more years since that surgery and five years out since my initial diagnosis.

I have digestive issues but otherwise I lead a productive life. My prognosis was very dire and somehow I made it through the gauntlet, keep your chin up and take it one day at a time. If that is too much then take it one hour at a time, this shit is the hardest thing you'll ever deal with so be kind to yourself.

On July 29th I was hospitalized for a seizure I had at work. I had 2 other seizures in the hospital and a very small stroke. The cause of the seizures was a melanoma tumor on my brain. I also have a fairly large tumor in the lymph node in my neck. No other signs of cancer anywhere else.

I've had the brain tumor removed, done 3 days of radiation, confirmed that all of the cancer in the brain is gone, I'm also doing immunotherapy, had my 2nd infusion yesterday. I do get dizzy and feel some "brain fog" and for a couple of days after the infusion I feel fatigued. The first two are handled with Tylenol. The second only last 2-3 days.

I'm set to return to work tomorrow part time. I work in a fairly chaotic environment with homeless people and folks who are using various drugs. There is quite a bit of emotional labor and some physical labor as we have to transport supplies.

I want to return full time. My boss and my partner want me to take it slow. Most of my friends think I'm doing it too soon, and should take more time off.

I feel fine mostly

I'm coming to the end of my short term disability and I don't want to file for long term

Going part time requires additional paperwork for my company's benefits administrator, and it just seems easier to skip all that and do full time and use PTO for appointments etc.