Cancer at any age is challenging, but for people ages 15 to 39, balancing a diagnosis with life’s milestones like finishing school, starting a family and maintaining relationships, adds an extra layer of complexity. There is no clear path after cancer treatment, and questions and uncertainties linger.
Ashlee Cramer supported her husband, who succumbed to cancer, and later, her son, Michael, on his cancer journey. After finishing treatment for hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma at Sylvester, Michael still faced challenges with graft-versus-host disease, a common complication of bone marrow transplants. Despite the struggle, Ashlee found solace in the community of patients and families sharing similar experiences.
Survivors and caregivers often don’t have time to reflect until after treatment ends: “In hectic moments, we have adrenaline, but when the downtime comes, it all rushes back,” Ashlee shared.
The Cramers are part of Sylvester’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), working to improve care and support for families like theirs. Ashlee also began collaborating with UHealth to create a PFAC for caregivers. The mother and son view life after cancer as a second phase of their journey, taking each day one moment at a time. They also find beauty in their brokenness, sharing their story through blogs, podcasts and social media to inspire others. Michael said, “It’s meaningful to find purpose in your struggles.”
The Cramers have learned six important aspects of postcancer survivorship: finding a supportive community, considering therapy, discovering new purposes, accepting life’s imperfections, recognizing survivor’s guilt and avoiding comparisons with peers. As Ashlee reflected: “You don’t bounce back; you bounce forward.”