What happened, in summary

Lily was 18 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer, at an age when she expected to be thinking about college and her future. Instead, cancer brought surgeries, treatment, repeated medical appointments, physical pain and uncertainty. The experience disrupted her education, independence, relationships and many milestones that people her age often take for granted. Lily is now in remission, but she describes recovery as more than the end of treatment. Years later, she still experiences anxiety about her health and carries the emotional impact of becoming seriously ill so young. She has learned to separate surviving cancer from the longer process of healing from it. The experience has also shaped how she relates to other people facing illness. Lily says it deepened her empathy and strengthened her desire to turn what happened to her into compassion and care for others. She now advocates for earlier screening, accessible care and research that recognizes colorectal cancer can also affect young people.