Many young people have said that their initial understanding of cancer came from the media, or remembering an older relative who had cancer. In most cases the person with cancer died. The reality is that some people, whatever their age, do die from cancer, but the majority of young people survive. Medical science is advancing daily and more young people are surviving cancer and entering a stage called ‘survivorship’. Most young people living with cancer finish active treatment, and with time develop a new appetite for life.

As challenging as cancer treatments are, many survivors and their loved ones come to believe that cancer was one of the best things that ever happened to them and are thankful for the experience.

The transition from active treatment to survivorship can be both an exciting and confusing time for young people living with cancer. Many survivors and their families report feeling a sense of relief and closure towards the end of treatment. However, when treatment ends many families also experience a whole new range of emotions like joy, anger, anxiety, fear, guilt and loss. With survivorship comes the beginning of a whole new challenge, filled with a lot of new questions.

Although it can be any annoying statement, there is some truth to the saying ‘Time is a great healer.’ Most young people living with cancer get to the point where cancer does not consume their life, thoughts and behaviour. The cancer experience may be a factor that contributes to shaping their lives, but does not control it. Survivorship, as a stage of the cancer journey, progresses to focussing on life and finding ways to feel empowered for being a survivor, rather than a victim or sufferer.