Having cancer twice, as a child and then as a young adult (Kelly’s story)

March 1, 2011

In this video, Kelly talks about surviving cancer twice, as a child and then as a young adult

Watch as Kelly talks about being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 11 and then with breast cancer at the age of 28. She describes what it was like being a kid with cancer and how that changed when she was an adult with cancer.

Kelly shares that she was forced to re-evaluate feminine societal norms because of her mastectomies and losing her hair to chemo. She also shares how she found her own strength and how her cancer experience affected the way she sees the future.

She works as a certified fitter of prosthetics and bras for women who have had mastectomies and lumpectomies. Before, she worked as a personal support worker.

After I was done everything, I’ve really also, on top of being stronger, I advocate a lot more for myself. I don’t keep things in as much, I was a lot more introverted before, kept a lot of things in, now I’m out there. If I want to do something, I do it. If I want to say something to somebody I’ll say it, I don’t let it bother me, I just grab it and take hold and just do it. Just do it.

Watch the video of Kelly talking about surviving cancer twice

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer works with our partners to make sure adolescents and young adults (AYA) who are either living with or are survivors of cancer as children, adolescents or young adults, experience improved outcomes and quality of life. Our goal is to deliver quick, equal access to the best care both during and after cancer treatment. That care should be based on education and research to improve health outcomes and quality of life, and to eliminate current disparities around AYA cancer care.

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