Celebrating 20 Years Cancer Free

Today marks 20 years cancer free for me.

This means I am part of an ever-growing group of young adult survivors of childhood cancers. And finally, finally! thanks to increased odds of remission and survival rates, we are growing large enough in numbers that lasting effects of chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments can be studied and better understood. 20 years ago, we were the guinea pigs – the ones whose families told the doctors, “just make them better! Whatever it takes.” Now we know that curing the cancer is just part of the issue.

I am thankful that I can share information about groups like FertileHope, The SAMFund, the Young Survivor Coalition and others that are popping up every day with you. The creation of the Oncofertility Consortium is a huge step in the right direction. I am heartened to see that the FertilityNotes MySpace now has a handful of friends focused on post-cancer related issues, almost all of them started by young cancer survivors for young cancer survivors. I love seeing announcements like the one Gloria posted today at Cancer Commentary.

I will be even happier when our numbers stop growing, or at least even out. While I am so proud to be among survivors, I am sad that it feels like more and more children have to deal with cancer in the first place.

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