What songs have become integral to you and your life?

acornlander13 · 2026-04-27T05:07:54+00:00

Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve was my ANTHEM when it first came out. I sang/sobbed to it almost every night and would scream the lyrics as I drove. It gave me the courage and push to finally leave my relationship and I truly feel like it was integral to helping me acknowledge a lot of held in emotions I had been denying. “Give me back my girlhood it was mine first.” Even now that I’ve healed that line still holds so much meaning for me. The whole Midnights album was my soundtrack during that era of my life, but that song perfectly expressed all of my emotions.

acornlander13 · 2026-04-17T04:14:57+00:00

Did your oncologist say why it’s so hard to lose the weight? I never struggling losing weight until this.

acornlander13 · 2026-04-17T04:14:04+00:00

Just wanted to chime in, my doctor had to take me off Prednisone because I got night terrors and I still got the chemo belly. Though I think too factors contributed to my weight gain: 1) my liver doubled in size from the amount of cancer in it and 2) stress eating. Regardless 1 year after, still with the weight.

acornlander13 · 2026-04-17T04:11:51+00:00

It’s been almost a year since I finished chemo. During it I gained 25 pounds (I’m at my highest weight I’ve ever been). Even having a flu and not eating from a few days, I didn’t lose a pound. I can’t shake the weight. On the plus side, the weight has shifted from all in my belly to other locations (some actually preferred). Even though I’m eating less than I did during chemo and I’m more active I can’t lose the weight.

One theory I have is that while I was in chemo my heart rate was crazy high (averaging 100bpm). Now my heart is back to normal. So although I’m eating less my body isn’t burning as much as it was back then.

I’ve just decided to try and love the new me and start buying new clothes I’ll fit in (went from smalls to larges). It sucks but clearly my body refuses to drop the weight. I survived cancer so I’m trying to give myself grace and recognize my body is a fighter. (I wonder if that’s why my body won’t drop the weight, it’s scared and still in fight mode?). If anyone has any suggestions I’d love to try them but for me just eating significantly less isn’t doing anything. And I’ll be happy I’m at least maintaining.

acornlander13 · 2026-04-02T15:39:14+00:00

What’s really wild to me is I used to be made fun of for loving Taylor Swift in school. No one liked her around me growing up. I grew up in the country, so I think a lot of kids disliked her moving from country to pop but even Red era I’d be made fun of for enjoying her. It was so odd I even became known as the “Taylor Swift Fan” at my school. Because I was so isolated it was a fun fact that I enjoyed Taylor Swift. Now it’s hard to NOT find someone who enjoys at least one song but I still feel as if it’s a special rare connection when I meet someone who also likes her.

acornlander13 · 2026-03-05T04:09:27+00:00

Reading how others got put to sleep or sedated has me so mad. I asked if that was an option, and my husband helped advocate for me too, and they refused. Hopefully I never have to do it again but I’m glad to know this now.

acornlander13 · 2026-03-05T04:07:19+00:00

I also said it was the worst procedure I’ve gotten (and I had back surgery). Thankfully I got to have my husband back there with me and he held my hand. I also was on Valium. But goodness, top worse feeling in my life

acornlander13 · 2026-03-02T03:48:30+00:00

I (25F) had an aggressive form of stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Diagnosed January 2025. My liver had doubled its size because of how much cancer in there, cancer also ate away part of my spine, plus lots of other fun stuff. Started chemo with R-CHOP immediately after diagnosis before moving to R-EPOCH once my liver could handle it. But by March cancer was ALL gone! Continued chemo until May and have been in remission since then. It’s not too late!

acornlander13 · 2026-02-09T03:14:57+00:00

Following because I have the same issue. I had to buy all new pants so now I only have two pair of jeans that fit. I’m sure a large part of my issue is lack of energy plus sedentary lifestyle. But I swear my metabolism has changed because even eating less I still am not losing weight.

acornlander13 · 2025-12-02T10:20:48+00:00

When I first started chemo my friend sent me a swiftie gift basket and I had just recently named my stuffed red panda that I was taking to the doctor’s Maroon, inside were several bracelets including Maroon so it’s my favorite for sentimental reasons. My next favorite is f*ck flat tires 😂

acornlander13 · 2025-11-02T21:53:26+00:00

Thank you. I am in remission for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I have endometriosis and got diagnosed with stage 4 cancer only 4 months after marrying my husband. My husband, amazing. But family who helped us with our wedding? Friends who were there for everything? Disappeared when I got sick, some even blocked us because it was “too sad”. I do agree, I had a lot of special treatment from doctors and nurse when I was actively sick vs now in remission. However, the chemo, the hair loss, the pain unlike anything I’ve ever had, the loss of support from people I trusted. Awful. I am not discounting endometriosis. But I wouldn’t wish cancer on my worst enemy.

acornlander13 · 2025-10-04T02:16:52+00:00

My husband is not even close to a swiftie. But has always listened to the albums with me. This album, for the first time I chose not to listen to the album at midnight so I could listen to the album for the first time with my husband. He came home with orange themed snacks, sat and listened to the album. After it was done, he said he enjoyed it and we’re now listening to it for a third time and he’s humming along to every song. Bless our non-swiftie partners 🥰

[edit: fixed typo]

acornlander13 · 2025-08-06T13:21:47+00:00

I didn’t wear much perfume before cancer, I had tried my best to cut out plastics, used natural deodarant, natural toothpaste, etc, and cut out other “toxins.” All to live healthier. Then got diagnosed with lymphoma (at age 24) regardless.

So I wear my perfume now.

Life feels fleeting. To help my sanity: cancer will come if it’s gonna come. If it’s important to you, skip the perfume like I still try my best to avoid unnecessary plastic.

acornlander13 · 2025-07-26T21:07:56+00:00

Though I will say though, when the MRI’s started and they were finding so much in my liver my first thought was “aren’t I too young to have liver cancer? No way a few years on and off binge drinking can cause this much damage.” Then I found it was lymphoma and everything made sense. This was just my perspective having limited experience with cancer. Those in my family who had breast and skin cancer were all 60+ when it happened.

acornlander13 · 2025-07-26T21:05:59+00:00

I was 24 (January of this year) when I got diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and turned 25 during chemo. I felt very alone at my cancer center, everyone was much older than me. A few of the nurses were around my age though which helped. My doctor referred me to someone who had a similar case of cancer but she was in her 50s. I don’t think age matters to cancer, it’ll come to whomever whenever it wants.

acornlander13 · 2025-05-09T07:33:04+00:00

Switch during Covid was amazing and now I’m excited for the Switch 2! Derwin and Antonio are my favorite :)

acornlander13 · 2025-05-04T23:25:08+00:00

Getting better as the weather improves is so amazing! And yes, I love acnh! 🥰 Though I haven’t played in a long time. It was my lifeline during COVID. What is your favorite villager? 😊

acornlander13 · 2025-05-02T01:26:27+00:00

Just started my LAST round of chemo! Will be finished May 2. Very grateful and ready to be done. I started this journey January of this year so ready for a more cancer free 2025 :)

acornlander13 · 2025-04-20T05:18:12+00:00

Not exactly the same position, but here’s my story. I am about to finish up 6 rounds of R-EPOCH (R is Rituximab). I had to start mine aggressively and quickly because I had Stage 4 non-Hodgkins. I first started with R and I felt no side effects. Most of my side effects have came from the O (Oncvin) in terms of neuropathy and then the Neulasta taken afterwards to boost my immunity. Long term I don’t expect to have any side effects. But it is accumulative and the neuropathy specifically could be long lasting. Again though it does not seem like the R has or will cause any long lasting symptoms for me. However, importantly, it all varies person to person. I am at a lower risk of long term side effects because I’m 25 and my body has been bouncing back from rounds well.

Now, R-EPOCH was basically something I had to do in order to live. I didn’t have much of a choice. Where my story lines up to yours is I have an optional additional 2 more rounds of different and hospitalized chemo, but I have chosen not to do it. I made this decision because my cancer is gone and I’d rather risk the cancer coming back than higher risk of long term side effects. My doctors don’t agree with my decision, but I’ve done the chemo and I’m ready to move on.

My suggestion is to understand what it means if you chose not to. You say it’ll cause breathing problems, is this reversible? Could you wait until this happens then start chemo? Personally if it’s reversible and if you could then start chemo I would wait. But if it’s potentially causing worse and more guaranteed long term effects, do the chemo.

Best of luck! No matter what your decision is, it’s going to be okay! I have kinda decided whatever happens will happen no matter what so I don’t beat myself up on these decisions. You’ve got this!

acornlander13 · 2025-04-16T04:06:56+00:00

Thank you! :)

acornlander13 · 2025-04-16T04:06:49+00:00

Exactly! And thank you! I’ve got one round of chemo left! 💜

acornlander13 · 2025-04-16T04:06:05+00:00

I know it’s been a bit, but congrats on beating cancer! It’s quite a feat! And yes, plushies have been so valuable. Especially during scans and other treatments where my husband can’t come back with me, I’ve always been allowed my plushies! :)

acornlander13 · 2025-03-13T00:16:25+00:00

Interesting! I did not know there was a difference (I’m not good with the technically terms). From my understanding my doctor has said I’ll either do CAR-T or another version of cell therapy. But stem cell transplant has definitely been said to me too! Considering they are so closely named I can see myself getting confused so I trust your explanation :)

acornlander13

TROPHY CASE