This entry will also be published on Cancer Perspectives, the John Theurer Cancer Center Blog
At the Young Adult Cancer Survivor Movie Night, the question was raised: “How has cancer affected your social life?” A moment of silence followed, in which each of us reflected on just how cancer has changed us. For many young adult survivors, walking into a bar bald-headed and fatigued feels no less awkward than walking into a bar naked.
Cancer is a party crasher. Yet here we were, a group of young adult survivors, hanging out, having fun. We’d spent the evening eating pizza, chatting, watching a movie. Thanks to the John Theurer Cancer Center, the Young Survival Coalition of Northern NJ, Stupidcancer.org, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey, we had an opportunity to kick back and relax with others who were happy to be at an alcohol-free event, who didn’t mind when they turned the lights out at 9 p.m.
Don’t get me wrong: many survivors refuse to be hindered by their diagnoses and are able to make crazy late nights happen.
