Cancer in young adults is relatively rare, and so came as a shock to multiple-medal-winning gymnast Tamara O’Brien.
Weeks after winning a silver medal in double-mini trampoline at the 2017 World Games, Tamara O’Brien felt a strange lump under her chin while watching TV in her mother’s Coquitlam duplex.
O’Brien, who spent her childhood on her sport’s world stage, is now opening up about her difficult health journey. She hopes she can help other youth battling cancer who are struggling, as she initially did, to connect with people their own age. The pride in her voice dissolves into sorrow, though, when she talks about the injustice of this illness. “To watch this happen and not be able to have any control over the outcome and what is happening, is the hardest thing in the world.”
By her own account, O’Brien has good days and bad days, days of determination and days of dark depression. “I realize how powerful my story is to people. I think that is a huge purpose in my life, just being able to share and help, in whatever people decide to take out of my story.”O’Brien had “an abundance of energy” when she was a toddler. “I used to stack stuff together when I was young and stand on it. My mother put me into gymnastics when I was two.”
After she returned home, she found the lump under her chin. It was near a spot where, the previous year, she’d had a mole removed that would test positive for melanoma. O’Brien knew her battle with cancer would force her to quit the national trampoline team and focus her energy entirely on her health.
She would have four more surgeries, between January and March 2018, but doctors couldn’t remove all the stubborn cancer spreading microscopically through her neck. After a scan in April 2018, her oncologist delivered the worst news yet. “I was like, ‘No, it’s actually me,’” she recalled. “The young adults are forgotten. There are supports out there, but I really had to look for it. Which is sad.”
Participants can discuss issues that are relevant to their lives, said Hankinson, such as body image or fear of losing their fertility after cancer treatments. “Some of the reasons are that AYA, in clinical trials and research, they are very under-represented,” Goddard said. In the fall, O’Brien’s doctors put her on new pills that try to slow down the cancer, and they appeared to be working — although the nasty side effects include hair loss.
Geulen is an on-call clerical worker for a local school district, a job that has given her flexibility to be with her daughter during appointments and hospital stays. But the less she works, the less she gets paid, often making it difficult to cover monthly expenses. O’Brien’s chosen experience was to attend the 2018 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Russia last November, so she could say goodbye to her Canadian teammates.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ben Kuzma: Quinn's in on Jack Hughes rules in NHL Entry Draft top 10 prospectsLottery look: The top 10 prospects for this year’s NHL Entry Draft, which goes June 21-22 at Rogers Arena
Read more »
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime hoping to reach ATP Top 10 by 2020 - Sportsnet.caCanadian tennis phenom Felix Auger-Aliassime has his sights set on reaching the ATP Tour’s Top 10 in 2020.
Read more »
Puig in middle of fray, Pirates top Reds - TSN.caA charged-up Yasiel Puig barrelled into a bunch of Pirates during a bench-clearing fracas Sunday, and was among five ejections in Pittsburgh's 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Read more »
Astros top A's on Altuve's bases-loaded walk - TSN.caJose Altuve drew a four-pitch walk from Oakland closer Blake Treinen with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, giving the Houston Astros a 9-8 win Sunday and a three-game sweep of the Athletics.
Read more »
Indians top Jays 3-1 for four-game sweepMike Clevinger struck out 10 and allowed one hit over five scoreless innings, then left with upper back tightness as the Cleveland Indians beat the struggling Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday to complete a four-game sweep.
Read more »
Health risks associated with extending hours of alcohol sales, city's top doctor saysToronto’s medical officer of health has authored a new report that suggests offering alcohol at restaurants earlier in the day may not be such a great idea.
Read more »
Riled Bayern Munich routs Dortmund to reclaim Bundesliga lead - Sportsnet.caStung by recent criticism, Bayern Munich delivered a clear statement of intent on Saturday after reclaiming the Bundesliga lead with a 5-0 thrashing of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
Read more »
Hurricanes top Flyers, will face Capitals in first round - Sportsnet.caJordan Staal scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and the Carolina Hurricanes hung on to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Saturday night for their fourth victory in five games.
Read more »