Dawn’s Cancer Journey
Read Dawn’s moving story of resilience and the importance of support and positivity. Her painful path to recovery revealed new insights and self-discovery.
Dawn // 30 Stories Campaign™ // Oral Cancer Awareness
My journey through the diagnosis and treatment of my left tonsil cancer will stay with me forever.
My treatment included seven weeks of daily radiation therapy and weekly chemotherapy. During my third week of treatment, my appetite and taste disappeared, but I continued to force myself to eat. At week five, it became too painful to swallow, and I had to rely on a G-tube for my daily food intake. It was at this point that things took a turn for the worse.
The pain became unbearable[…] that horrible experience burns in my memory. But I did bear it. I endured it, and I overcame it.
The worst pain I have ever experienced came in the middle of the night. All I wanted to do was sleep and get some relief. I refused to take opioids. I decided to tough it out all on my own. I figured I only have a couple weeks left. The treatment would end, and I would get back on track to feeling better. Sadly, that was not the case.
The pain became unbearable, and even now one and a half years in remission, that horrible experience burns in my memory. But I did bear it. I endured it, and I overcame it. I learned just how tough I was as I faced my cancer head on.
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…after my treatment ended, I began to eat solid foods again… My weight slowly went up. I started to feel like myself again, and I loved it.
However, I did not bounce back right away or as quickly as I thought I would. In the weeks after I finished my radiation therapy, my eating difficulties persisted. All the success I had felt from completing my radiation therapy seemed meaningless.
This brought me to my lowest point—I felt disappointed for even getting here. But gradually, I saw tangible improvement. Three to four weeks after my treatment ended, I began to eat solid foods again. Finally! Something other than smoothies. My weight slowly went up. I started to feel like myself again, and I loved it. I still remember the first time I ate solid foods after my treatment. Nothing fancy, just some scrambled eggs, but I could eat it. I wanted to do a victory lap after!
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Looking back, I know I couldn’t have done what I did without the support of my family—my cheerleaders…
Looking back, I know I could not have done what I did without the support of my family—my cheerleaders, as I like to say. I went into my journey certain I would beat my cancer, and my conviction never wavered thanks to them. Of course, receiving warm check ups from my care team and getting clean scans and reports played a part in lifting my spirits. I realized that maintaining my positivity was critical for my success, and I lead my life now the same way as a reminder of my capabilities.
Unsurprisingly, cancer has left me with lasting changes in my life. But I do not let that dampen my positivity. I accept what it has done to me, but I choose to live with these changes as best I can. The most important thing to me is that I am here. In fact, my experience with cancer has opened new doors.
I have grown a greater appreciation for food than I had before. Largely during my recovery and even now, I’ve become a foodie with my sense of taste and swallow recovering day by day. I can’t wait to get back to eating the foods and cuisines I love, especially Mexican. Above all, I have learned the importance of taking care of myself, and I persistently uphold this no matter what I do throughout my day.
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For someone recently diagnosed with cancer, reading the stories of other caregivers and survivors can inspire.
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