The Story

“You have cancer.”

The day that you found out it was a devastating moment. Everything in your life changed. A piece of you was ripped away without you even knowing, but you are now stronger for this happening. Not many people your age have to deal with news this devastating. It is amazing how three little words can turn your whole life upside down. But you are not alone. There are over 65,000 college-aged people who are told the same 3 words each year. Each year more and more people like yourself are converted from cancer victim to cancer survivor.

What was taken from you when those three words were uttered was a chunk of your innocence. Your might have lost your smile for a short duration. But know that each person who deals with this news has a greater appreciation for life and his or her smile is a new brighter stronger one that stretches wide across his or her face. We’ve had to confront something huge, and we look at life differently as something not to be taken for granted. So our smiles are deeper. We’ve learned earlier than most young people that we aren’t invincible, that we have to fight to be strong.

When you were told, “You have cancer,” you are given a stack of material to read about your particular type of cancer. You are told that there are support groups that you can turn to, but if you look into these groups or attend them you find that it’s tough to locate people your own age. Older cancer patients may understand what you are going through in the treatment room, but they do not know the struggles you face everyday and they cannot relate because they are at a different place in their lives. Ted and Friends is here to give YOU a place for support. This support will range anywhere from a friend, advice, information, to financial resources. And we are your age so we will make this place relevant to YOU. We aren’t your normal cancer support group. We are your friend, and we are a place where we can be strong, share experiences, and smile together.

This is a site for us, but also it is for those who love us. Ted and Friends will be a place for Survivors, but as the LiveStrong foundation says, “a survivor is not just the cancer patient, it is anyone around the cancer patient that is being affected by this important individual.” Ted and Friends is for all people who need support during this ordeal and to help bring back their smile and their hope.

In my own search process I was lucky. I have a great support system from my family and friends. But there are things that only other Survivors can talk and laugh about. There are little things that no one else has had to experience like the way that your body feels before, during, and after a chemo treatment. No one can tell you what it is going to be like because it is different for everyone, but another Survivor knows – he or she has been there. Ted and Friends is here to help. We are here to grow and we are here to make your walk a little easier, a little lighter, by sharing the load.