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By Alyce Collins and Julika Feix
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When the year started, all I could think about was this summer. I just turned 18 and I could not wait to graduate high school and make so many memories with my friends. There was so much to be excited about and proud of, I just needed to get through the first half of the year before the celebrations could begin.
I worked hard throughout my senior year and stuck to my routines. I had a big year ahead, so I tried not to think too much about the unusual symptoms I began to notice.
It started with large bruises on my legs in early 2026. They seemed easy enough to explain however, as I play tennis and would often hit my legs with the racket if I missed the ball. While I did my best to ignore the bruising, it was much harder to dismiss my extremely itchy skin. I could not sleep at night because all I did was scratch myself. I scratched my skin until I was bleeding and I still have scars on my legs and feet from it.
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As the months went by, I also experienced night sweats, a persistent cough, shortness of breath and fatigue. I could hardly even say a full sentence without needing to stop and cough. I knew something was not right, but I did my best to feel better and keep looking ahead. I guess I just accepted the cough because I presumed it would eventually go away.
Looking back, I ignored all my other symptoms.
All I wanted was to enjoy the final few weeks of senior year and make memories to last a lifetime. We had so many fun activities planned, but I never had the energy. I constantly felt exhausted and unmotivated. I was so drained and could not enjoy life the way any 18-year-old should.
I went to the doctor in spring and told him that I’d had a bad cough for almost three months. He thought it was seasonal asthma so prescribed me an inhaler to see if that would help. The inhaler didn’t help, so I went back three weeks later.
This time, I told my doctor about the bruises and itchy skin too because it had to be more than allergies. He sent me for a chest X-ray, and while I was on the way home, he called and said to come back immediately.
That was, without a doubt, a worrying sign.
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I went back and this time I was given a CT scan. That was when doctors discovered an eight-centimeter mass on top of my lung and a swollen lymph node on my neck. Just to be sure, doctors also requested a blood test, and those results changed my life forever.
I will never forget the moment I heard the words, “you have Hodgkins’s lymphoma stage 2” on April 23, 2026. It was terrifying because I had always been healthy, and yet, this was incredibly serious.
‘I Never Imagined This Would Be My Reality’
I never imagined this would be my reality, especially not at the age of 18. Everything happened so fast and it was hard to process it in that moment. I felt overwhelmed with fear, concerns and endless questions.
The whole time I kept hoping it would turn out to be something less serious, like a lung infection. Sadly, that was not the case.
I am currently being treated with Nivolumab AVD chemotherapy. Each session takes around four to six hours, and I have them every two weeks. So far, I have completed five of my 12 chemotherapy treatments and my sixth is underway.
Some days I feel better and there are other days when I don’t feel well at all. The first three or four days after each chemo session are definitely the hardest. I get extreme fatigue and nausea during those days, so I have to spend most of my time sleeping and resting.
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Cancer and chemo have impacted every part of my life. Physically, I deal with constant exhaustion, nausea, infections, hair loss, and side effects that make even simple daily tasks difficult. Emotionally, it’s been incredibly hard to go from being a healthy 18-year-old girl to an 18-year-old with cancer.
I can never go back to who I was before this diagnosis.
I wanted to make so many memories this summer, but now I spend most of my time in the cancer center instead. Sometimes I feel forgotten by my friends and it hurts to see them enjoy their summer without me.
One thing I learned very quickly after my diagnosis was the importance of having a positive mindset. Even though it’s been one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever faced, it has also taught me resilience, helped me appreciate the people who have stood by me, and reminded me not to take the little things for granted.
‘If Something Feels Off, Don’t Ignore It’
I may still be in the midst of my cancer journey, but I want to remind others that you never truly know what someone is going through or what battles they’re fighting. Cancer isn’t always visible, and not every illness has obvious signs.
Listen to your body because you know it better than anyone else. If something feels off, don’t ignore it, get it checked out.
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I never asked for this, but cancer has taught how important genuine friendships are. Hard times often show who will truly stand by your side. So, if someone you care about is going through something difficult, don’t disappear. A simple text or phone call letting them know you’re thinking of them can mean more than you’ll ever realize. Checking in with a friend doesn’t take much, but it can make all the difference.
Following my diagnosis, I started sharing my journey on TikTok because I wanted to show that even with cancer, you can still find moments of joy and continue your life. If sharing my story helps even one person feel less alone or encourages someone to listen to their body sooner, then it has all been worth it.
Julika Feix, 18, from Cape Coral, Florida has been using TikTok (@julika.fx) to document her cancer journey as she hopes to advocate for people to listen to their body, regardless of their age.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-Sang
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