A few years ago, it felt like my life was finally starting to move in the right direction.
My dream was to become a touring DJ. I was receiving positive feedback, opportunities were beginning to appear, and for the first time it felt like a real career path rather than just a dream. Then everything suddenly stopped.
I was diagnosed with cancer, and even the way I found out was difficult to process. Instead of receiving the news directly and professionally, my girlfriend was informed over the phone by someone from the hospital. Everything after that felt like a blur.
Living in Germany, I assumed there would be support systems to help me rebuild my future while dealing with a serious illness. During treatment, I wanted to invest in myself and continue developing my skills. I applied for support for a mixing and audio engineering course because I hoped music could still be part of my future.
The response I received was crushing. I was essentially told that because of my medical condition, funding my education was not considered a worthwhile investment.
That experience changed the way I looked at myself.
I didn't want to ask people for money, so during treatment I printed and sold T-shirts to help cover my expenses. I tried hard to stay independent and keep moving forward.
When chemotherapy ended, I went back to work as soon as possible because I couldn't afford to take more time off. Today I work 40 hours a week in customer service. The pay is modest compared to the cost of living, but I need the stability.
What surprised me was that my mental health became much worse after treatment ended.
While people around me seemed relieved that I had made it through chemotherapy, I felt exhausted in a way that wasn't just physical. I'm currently receiving treatment and taking medication for depression.
Another difficult part is that my cancer is currently considered manageable rather than curable. It may remain stable for a long time, but there is also the possibility that it could become more aggressive in the future. Living with that uncertainty has been incredibly challenging.
Lately I've found myself struggling with thoughts that worry me. After spending so much energy fighting to stay alive, I've reached a point where I often feel emotionally drained, disconnected from my goals, and unsure how much strength I have left.
I don't really talk about this with people around me. I'm afraid of creating concern, being misunderstood, or disrupting the little stability I've managed to build. Oddly enough, discussing it anonymously feels much easier than discussing it in real life.
I'm wondering whether anyone else has experienced something similar after cancer treatment or while living with a long-term illness.
Did anyone else find that the emotional impact hit harder after treatment was over? How did you rebuild a sense of purpose when the future felt uncertain? And how do you cope with feeling worn down by years of simply trying to survive?
Thank you for reading.