I’m excited to be writing about the second issue of the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology (JAYAO) , the first cancer journal of it’s kind. This second issue is no small feat – many journals come and go and it takes a dedicated editorial staff and readership to keep the ship afloat. JAYAO has succeeded in putting out interesting and engaging articles that keep me (and everyone else!) coming back for more.
My favorite feature of JAYAO is the last section, “Voices of AYAO,” which shares stories from real patients and survivors, in their own words. It’s great to hear about AYA cancer from the people who have lived it or are still living through it. It’s especially poignant after sifting through and disseminating the previous journal articles because it reminds you that there is a person behind every statistic and case study.
In this particular issue, a survivor named Jenee shares her story with cancer as both an adolescent and an adult. At 15, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and had to have her leg amputated; at 18 she had a relapse of osteosarcoma; and at the age of 38 she was diagnosed with Stage 2B ovarian cancer. She had to have a total hysterectomy followed by six weeks of chemotherapy, sending her body into immediate menopause. “It was easier to overcome the loss of my leg than the loss of my ability to bear children,” she states.
Jenee goes on to discuss what the loss of her fertility meant to her and how she struggled with the lack of information she received regarding her fertility preservation options. It had immediate consequences and continues to be something she must overcome. She states, “On a daily basis, I am reminded of my dreams of being a mother in others.” Reading this was heart wrenching, but at the same time her story serves as motivation for young cancer patients, their caregivers, and providers to be more informed about fertility options for cancer patients.
To read the latest issue of JAYAO and see Jenee’s story along with a variety of multidisciplinary content, please click here.