Guest Post: 'How Childhood Cancer Survival Shaped My Mental Health'
Guest blogger Juanita Prada is a two-time childhood cancer survivor and the founder of BeholdBeGold. Dedicated to improving the lives of childhood cancer survivors facing late effects, the BeholdBeGold mission is to provide support, advocacy, and a safe space for survivors to connect and thrive beyond cancer treatment. Juanita aims to foster resilience and positivity among survivors, raising awareness about the unique challenges they face and advocating for their needs.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In today’s guest post, Juanita focuses on the lasting mental health impacts that childhood cancer survivors can struggle with well into adulthood.
As a two-time childhood cancer survivor, I can attest that the journey doesn’t end with the completion of treatment. The impact of cancer on a child’s body is profound, but its effects can extend well into adulthood, influencing mental health and daily living. This blog post explores how the late effects of childhood cancer treatment have shaped my mental health journey as an adult.
Through my personal story and the mission of BeholdBeGold, the platform I founded, I aim to shed light on the often-overlooked challenges childhood cancer survivors face in their lifelong battle against the late effects.
Juanita, pictured with her brother, receiving her first treatment
Navigating the Aftermath: The Ongoing Impact of Surviving Cancer
Surviving cancer twice during my childhood, I faced unimaginable challenges that left a lasting effect on my life. In 2003, at the age of 10, I was diagnosed with pre-B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a cancer that required aggressive treatment involving chemotherapy, radiation, and extensive medical procedures.
After an initial treatment period filled with complications, I achieved remission, only to relapse six months later with a tumor in my central nervous system. This second round of cancer, and the subsequent treatments, shaped my mental health in ways that continue to impact me as an adult.
Mental Health Challenges as an Adult
The long-term effects of surviving cancer treatment often go beyond the physical. In my case, anxiety is a constant companion, manifesting in various forms. The trauma of my medical journey has left me with heightened sensitivity to medical procedures, recurring fears, and stress-induced seizures due to epilepsy.
Juanita during recent epilepsy monitoring
My cognitive impairments, resulting from the damage caused by the treatment, create additional mental hurdles, impacting my ability to process information and retain memories. These challenges make it difficult to focus on complex tasks and follow multistep instructions, leading to frustration and self-doubt. This affects my academic and professional life, adding another layer of stress to an already complex mental health journey.
Fatigue is another significant factor, linked to both my epilepsy and the cognitive strain I experience. The energy required to process information and cope with everyday tasks leads to exhaustion, affecting my ability to live a normal life. Moreover, the social stigma associated with cognitive impairments and seizures adds to the anxiety and isolation I often feel.
Reliving the Pain
Certain smells, like those in hospitals, can trigger vivid memories of past treatments, reminding me of the pain and fear I experienced during my cancer journey. The trauma from invasive medical procedures, such as ports and intubation, left behind more than just physical scars—they left emotional ones, too. While the physical wounds have healed, the emotional remnants manifest in subtle but profound ways. Phantom pain, where I feel sensations from long-removed ports or needles, serves as a constant reminder of those intense experiences.
Juanita representing BeholdBeGold at CureFest
Call to Action
Childhood cancer survival comes with a lifelong journey of managing late effects, both physical and mental. It's crucial for medical providers, policymakers, and the general public to understand the ongoing challenges that survivors like me face. I encourage you to support platforms like BeholdBeGold, Children’s Cancer Cause, and other advocacy groups that work tirelessly to raise awareness and provide resources for survivors. By spreading awareness and providing support, we can help ensure that no childhood cancer survivor feels alone in their journey.
One way to support survivors is by asking your Senators and Representative to support the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act, bipartisan legislation with a number of provisions that directly address issues faced by the nation's 500,000 childhood cancer survivors along the continuum of survivorship care.
In conclusion, my story is just one example of the many ways childhood cancer can impact mental health into adulthood. Through BeholdBeGold, I hope to create a supportive community where survivors can share their experiences and find strength in solidarity. It's a journey that continues long after treatment ends, but together, we can advocate for better awareness and support for those who face the ongoing challenges of childhood cancer survivorship.
By amplifying the voices of survivors, we can make a difference in the lives of those who have endured so much and continue to show incredible resilience.
Editor’s Note: If you’re a survivor struggling with late effects, take the Late Effects Course on our Stewart Initiative for Childhood Cancer Survivors site. These self-guided lessons are aimed at helping survivors feel empowered to tackle some of the same challenges mentioned in this post, including mental health, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and chronic pain.