Remission

Hank Green beat this part of cancer and still gets to feel anxious about further problems. However, Hank Green was anxious before, and being anxious about stuff is kind of part of the process for Hank. That said, I'll keep Hank in my green candle witchy circle of protection forever. Thank you for taking us with you on this journey, Hank. I am honored.

The analogy of rolling a saving throw every day for the rest of your life and just not getting to look at the die to see what comes up… is SUCH a great representation of health anxiety for things we cannot easily discern.

Two decades ago, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, so your experience deeply resonates with me. I'm pleased to say that, in all likelihood, life will improve significantly for you once the dust settles. At this juncture, where you're medically cleared but emotionally unsettled, consulting a psychologist could provide invaluable support. On a personal note, the past 20 years of my life have been incredibly fulfilling, and I attribute much of that to the perspective I gained from my cancer journey. Trust me, there's a silver lining to be found.

That dice analogy is phenomenal for all aspects of life. Love it!!! :-) Every day through our efforts we roll the dice, but we so rarely get to see what the dice came up with on the day. All we can really know is every day we work hard towards a goal or on whatever we have going on, maybe it doesn't really affect the roll today, but it increases rhe chances of the roll tomorrow coming up with positive numbers. And that also at some point in the future we do get to see the results of those tosses of the dice we made before. In the end, as ever, you can't rush, or stop, the future. But we CAN change it in HUGE ways by small moves we do today. :-) So happy all those small daily moves from literally humans throughout history accumulating knowledge and technology to get us to today's state of cancer research and treatment, and then all the small daily moves through these last few months by you and all the people around you have the results today for you. :-) The future in right now really is the best. :-) And I loved this video's theme and message. :-) -Daven

When you announced your cancer diagnosis, I was in the ICU on life support after septic shock and multiple organ failure. I was in the hospital for 2 months and had to take another 2 months to recover. Like you I also had multiple surgeries and still have chronic pain. You'll probably never see this, but thank you for documenting your cancer journey. It really helped me perservere and push through one of the worst phases of my life. I am happy that you were able to get through to remission and hope you don't ever have to go through something like that again.

I've always said, 'what doesn't kill you, probably makes you anxious about what might'. But that said it can't be any bit easy living through this, but hope is a thing with feathers and I'm sure we'll hear it sing a familiar tune someday. Sending all the love and best wishes to you and everyone who's supported you and made this possible! We're all here for you ❤

16 years post Hodgekin Lymphoma here. No complications! So happy it all went well for you Hank! Sending love from Sydney. <3

Having had cancer myself a few years ago, I couldn’t bring myself to watch your content because, frankly, it’s a huge trigger for me. But seeing how you speak about it now validated a lot of my own feelings about this. So thank you! Congratulations and I wish you all the best!

I haven’t posted on these videos because it’s been hard, but I’m so happy right now I had to make a comment. I lost my mom to cancer nearly 12 years ago (shout out to SF coffee shop show 09 NF Mom!) and hearing you were dealing with it was difficult and brought up a lot of feelings. Like others who have lost loved ones to cancer I like to think the chemo trials and novel treatments she tried contributed positively to cancer research and continues to help others live longer, healthier lives. Every time I hear someone is in remission I think, thanks mom, and I’m definitely thanking her today. ❤

My husband was a cancer survivor. He always said "what doesn't kill you will only make you wish it had." May the anxiety diminish and may you have a long and healthy life.

What Hank talked about being ‘cured’ happened to my Grandmaw. She had bladder cancer 19 years ago and a few weeks ago was diagnosed with a relapse. We’re hopeful since treatments have advanced in that time and her cancer last time responded amazing to treatment, but it’s def a scary thing to go through!

Here's something cool: Hank, your cancer journey lines up very closely to my Grandma Brock's. Except in her case, it was the cancer returning after 24 years. In February of 1999, my Grandma was declared to be in remission. On that same day I was born. My Grandma likes to say that we share the day, as it is my birthday and her re-birth day. Last year she went to the hospital and found out that she had cancer again. It was a slightly differnet version of the one she had before. Right around that time Hank, you announced that you had been diagnosed with cancer. My Grandma lives in a different part of the country than me, and she's not big on texting. So I didn't know a lot about what was going on except what my Dad shared with me. Hearing about your experiences helped me to understand what was happening with my Grandma. You guys weren't diagnosed with the same kind of cancer, but I was able to see where your stories were similar. And I took some comfort from your general outlook, one that was hopeful while still acknowledging that the situation absolutely sucked. Grandma had some close calls. At one point she was septic, and we didn't know if she was going to make it. More than once, she talked about giving up. I am so so glad that she didn't. And I'm so glad you didn't either. Last month, my Grandma's doctor told her that she was in remission for the second time in her life. A couple of weeks later, we had a big party to celebrate her 75th birthday. She already looked healthier than she had in a while. Hearing that you were also in remission brings this story full circle, at least for me. Thank you for being open during such a difficult, trying time. I'm grateful for the doctors scientists, and past patients who made the treatments we have today possible. I'm grateful for my faith in God and in the afterlife, because I feel at peace knowing that this life isn't the end. I'm sure grateful for my communities, both with Nerdfighteria and my family. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Here's to hope for whatever the future holds.

I'm not going to say congratulations, because this isn't over, but I am going to say thank you - throughout probably the hardest time in your life, you've still kept teaching us. You've been so honest about the whole journey and thanks to you, everyone watching this is now so much more emotionally equipped to support people in our own lives who will inevitably have to go through this journey too. Thank you Hank, you're a real blessing.

For anyone wondering, remission usually lasts 5 years (depends on the doctor, the cancer, etc. -- also can be much longer, if not forever); after that, you can be considered cured (tho as Hank said, you are at a much higher risk for pretty much everything).

My mom, 72, just went into "remission" for Stage 4a lung cancer. She responded to her chemo so well. I used the quotes because the "remission" is only working due to her receiving Keytruda (a cancer medication) every 3 weeks pretty much until she passes from something else. Her last 2 PET scans have showed no cancer in any area she'd previous had it. Despite a day or so of fatigue after her infusion, she is back to her normal life. I can see that the anxiety of the whole thing has really changed her. Hank, how would you like to be supported with your anxiety? I ask my mom and she just shrugs. I'm looking for ideas.

The permanent anxiety about cancer coming back is... definitely a thing. My mom had cervical cancer twice; the second time while she was pregnant with me. (For some incredible reason, her doctors wanted her to abort me; obviously she chose not to.) She had a hysterectomy shortly after I was born, so she was... technically cured, I guess...? And never in my life have I really thought of my mom as a cancer survivor, because I never personally witnessed any of the effects of her cancer, besides never having any younger siblings. Once, a couple years ago - I was approaching 30, so 30 years after her cancer - I realized that I knew nothing about that time, and I casually asked her what it was like. She INSTANTLY burst into tears, which was... completely horrifying. My mom is a very strong woman, but just the thought of what she went through instantly broke her. She told me just a couple of things. That when she went into labor with me, there were hollows in her cheeks. (Besides that time, she's always been overweight, and usually an extremely pregnant person is larger than usual. Not that time.) That it got "so close" that she had picked out her grave. And that she still has nightmares that the cancer has come back. 30 years on and it still scares her THAT much. We haven't spoken of it again. So, I think it's totally normal that you'd be anxious. I think when you've had a brush with death, and when you've faced treatment that makes you sicker, you'd be absolutely right to be shaken. Just, take care of yourself, you know? I don't super know what your mental health was like before all this, but I think successfully fighting off cancer means you've got every right to set aside more time and resources for mental healthcare. Whatever that means for you. Thank you so much for continuing to educate us all throughout this experience.

"All that comes with another side effect.... Permanent Anxiety". Currently on surveillance for testicular cancer (2 years clean now), I know that feeling. Some days you don't think about it at all, other days you can't get it off your mind. I know you are very busy person, getting lost in the work/hobbies always helped me with the anxiety. I'm happy for you, and thank you for sharing this journey with us. I know a lot of people are super hush-hush about Cancer. My family (cancer doesn't run in our family, it gallops), has approached it with a very dark sense of humor and speak about it openly.

I remember hearing Dr. K from Healthy Gamer GG talk about trauma and illness, and he mentioned how doctors and people in the medical field hear the phrase, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," and then add, "... or it cripples you for the rest of your life." Living through something awful is just that, an awful event in your life. How things play out from that point depends on so many factors in yourself and in your environment. And maybe you do end up stronger in the end, but not in the way you intended or imagined you'd be.

I'm 18 years out from Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Stage III). Happy "NED", and congrats on a battle well fought. Post-treatment was the hardest time for me. Anyone reading this who is going through treatment or post-treatment (or are caretakers for those who are)... take care of yourselves afterwards. I know the urge to get back to "normal" is so strong. But aftercare is so vital. I fell apart when I felt like I could, and didn't have the same supports I did when I was in treatment.

Hooray for almost normal! I, too, was once very sick for a very long time. Now when I look in the mirror and have the energy and attention to think, "Oh no, I'm having a bad hair day," I try to make my next thought, "Wow, I must be having a great day if I can care about what I look like." Wishing you many days of noticing and / or caring about appearances, Hank. ❤