Cancer Took Away My Fertility and My Olympic Dreams

But I Am Grateful to Be Alive

The story of Amanda Brunson, a young woman from the United States:

Diagnosed at 21 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, I am still adjusting to my new life, but I am grateful to be alive.

I was a track-and-field athlete throughout college and wanted to compete in the Olympics, but cancer had other plans for me. In 2010, during my final year of college, I began having sudden, sharp shoulder pain. At first I blamed overtraining. The pain soon spread to my chest and back, becoming so severe that my entire body felt as though it was on fire.

I went to my family doctor, who said I was training too much and prescribed muscle relaxants and painkillers. When they did not help, I saw the college doctor. He gave me a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, but it caused bruising and rashes. The bruises were so severe that one of my coaches asked whether my boyfriend was physically abusing me.

Throughout this, I knew something was very wrong. But I was only 21, too young to be afraid. That feeling would come later.

Living With Fear and Uncertainty

The pain finally became so unbearable that I went to the hospital emergency department. A nurse drew blood, and a doctor gave me morphine for the pain. For the first time in weeks, I felt relief and quickly fell asleep. But this peaceful break was brief. The doctor woke me and said he had my blood test results. "I think you have leukemia," he said, quickly leaving the room.

I had no idea what the diagnosis meant. My only experience of cancer came from a Charlie Brown episode I had watched as a child, in which Linus's classmate was diagnosed with leukemia. I thought it meant I was going to die. That was when I felt afraid.

Throughout my hospital stay, I faced constant uncertainty. Another doctor soon came into my room and told me to turn onto my stomach. The next thing I felt was a needle entering my back, but he did not explain that this was a bone marrow biopsy or why it was needed.

A few hours later, I learned I had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). I still did not fully understand the diagnosis, but that evening I underwent surgery to place a chemotherapy port in my chest. I did not know the treatment plan; I was only told I would die without immediate treatment.

Turning to Faith to Cope With Cancer

Despite intensive chemotherapy with medicines such as vincristine and methotrexate, I was determined to finish my final college year and graduate on time. I could not have known then that potentially curing this cancer would take more than a decade.

Over the next 3.5 years, I continued intensive chemotherapy and underwent many bone marrow biopsies to monitor its effectiveness. Throughout this time, I was determined not to let cancer take away my dream of competing in the Olympics.

That dream ended when, after a brief remission, I learned the cancer had returned. At that point, I truly leaned on my faith to get through the next stage of my cancer journey.

NOTE: Remission means the temporary or permanent disappearance of a disease's signs and symptoms. In cancer treatment, it describes a period in which the disease is controlled and cancer symptoms have disappeared.

Living With Cancer's Consequences

In 2015, at Moffitt Cancer Center, I underwent an allogeneic bone marrow transplant that brought me into lasting remission. I remain cancer-free today. However, cancer and its treatment left lasting marks, and I am still adjusting to my new life.

Treatment caused many health problems, including fertility problems and treatment-induced menopause, leading to sexual health difficulties and even problems with my teeth and eyes. But I am not complaining. I have accepted the cards I was dealt. I am turning my pain into purpose and am grateful to be alive.

Giving Back

My experience of cancer as a young adult led me to become a patient adviser in Moffitt Cancer Center's Patient and Family Advisory Program. At the hospital that gave me my life back, I wanted to help ensure that young cancer patients in particular received medical and emotional support.

Today, I try to live in the moment every day, although I do not know whether that is good or bad, because I still need to plan for my future. I have learned that life can change in a second. I try to work toward long-term goals while living each day as fully as possible.

Everything about cancer was a challenge, but I also gained a great deal from the experience. I am stronger, wiser and more confident than before diagnosis. I appreciate my loved ones more and take nothing for granted.

We are all living on borrowed time. Cancer offers an important lesson in using that time wisely.