Not really sure how to start this, but here it goes.

My name is Vanessa, and I’m from Boston, Massachusetts. In March, I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. Since then, life has changed in ways I never expected. Between treatments, appointments, and trying to keep up with everyday life, I’ve been struggling to find myself again.

One of the hardest things has been getting back to the gym and feeling like “me.” Chemotherapy has put a lot of limitations on where I can go and what I can do physically, and some days it’s hard to find the motivation. This weekend, I signed up for the $14/month Shred program, hoping it might help me take some small steps forward and give me something positive to focus on.

I have an amazing partner and wonderful kids who are here for me every day, and I’m grateful beyond words. But even with all that love and support, there’s a loneliness that comes with cancer that’s difficult to explain unless you’ve lived it. Sometimes I feel like I’m carrying thoughts and emotions that nobody else can quite see.

I’m sharing this because I know I can’t be the only one feeling this way. If you’ve been through cancer treatment, struggled to find yourself again, or had to rebuild your confidence and strength from the ground up, I’d love to hear your story. Right now, I’m just trying to take things one day at a time and find my way back to myself.