MY STORY

The Roots

I believe you must bring your whole self to the table if you want to thrive in today’s crazy world; your personality, your sense of humor, and most importantly, your heart. All of these elements brought me to start I Got The Cancer.

Hi, my name is Emily Bushman. I am a 21-year-old senior at West Virginia University, and I am from Mechanicsburg, PA. I was diagnosed with stage 2 unfavorable rest Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in May 2019. My diagnosis was slightly different than the norm. I broke out in a crazy rash that would end up covering my body. It was eventually diagnosed as sweet syndrome, which is caused by cancer. I did have a lump in my neck as well, but the rash was the main reason we went to the doctor. I began my chemotherapy treatment on June 18th and am still fighting the battle. We are hopeful it will be over soon.

About a month ago my best friend reached out to me and told me about a friend of hers that was diagnosed with the same type of cancer as me. She asked if I would contact her friend and act as a supportive figure in her journey. Her journey had many of the same steppingstones as my story. After I talked with her and saw how much I was able to help by just telling my story and explaining what may happen going forward, I was inspired. Every young adult should have someone to turn to that has gone through what they are going through or are about to go through. The unknown can be terrifying. When I was first diagnosed, my mom searched high and low for any information on Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She became obsessed with reading blogs about what I would eventually be going through. She could not seem to find many blogs from young adults talking about their experiences. It is so helpful and important to connect with individuals that are the same age and going through the same thing. They can provide you with information that you can’t find online. Experiences are shared and connecting with others is a great way to vent about issues you are both facing. The relationships you create will follow you through your fight and into remission. Your peers will cheer for you and encourage you to keep pushing when times get tough. I encourage everyone to begin the search to connect. No one fights alone!