A sister's perspective

When we arrived at the oncologist’s office, we sat in the waiting room before being called back to meet with the doctor. But from where we were sitting, we could see the chemotherapy treatment area. Patient after patient receiving chemo in an open room.

I was not prepared for that moment.

Seeing those people made everything suddenly feel real. It hit me like a brick: my sister has cancer.

By the time we were called back, I was already crying. All I could picture was my sister eventually sitting in one of those chairs. I tried to pull myself together because I knew I needed to listen carefully. My sister was terrified, and I felt like I needed to be strong for her, even though I was scared too.

At the end of that appointment, we were told that although my sister did not currently have severe symptoms, if she were his wife or sister, he would recommend starting six months of chemotherapy immediately.

We walked out devastated.

To us, it sounded like chemotherapy was the only option. We thought about her beautiful red hair. We thought about how our lives had changed in a single appointment.

Thankfully, a friend in healthcare encouraged my sister to get a second opinion at Mayo Clinic.

That second opinion changed everything.

The oncologist at Mayo explained that because my sister was not currently experiencing severe symptoms, the best approach was to carefully monitor her and wait before starting treatment. With follicular lymphoma, chemotherapy can become less effective over time, so preserving treatment options mattered.

That was two years ago.

Today, my sister still deals with fatigue and other symptoms, but thankfully, treatment has not yet been necessary. We know that day may come eventually, but for now, we are grateful for time.

In the middle of all the fear and uncertainty, my sister created something beautiful: Blyndsided.

Because we truly were blindsided by this diagnosis.

Cancer, we didn't associate with someone in their 40s. 

We kept asking ourselves:

How did this happen?

How is this diagnosis a false positive?

What do we do now?

While we are grateful to have time before treatment is necessary, not everyone has that same luxury.

This diagnosis devastated our family, but it also brought us closer together. Anything my sister needs, we will do. That love and support became part of the inspiration behind Blyndsided.

This community is about helping people feel a little less alone.

Maybe it’s a shirt that makes someone laugh on a hard day.

Maybe it’s a beanie that helps someone feel more confident during hair loss.

Maybe it’s a blanket that brings comfort during treatment.

There is no way to make cancer easy. We can help people feel more supported as they go through it.

From the sister of someone living with incurable cancer, this journey has been heartbreaking, terrifying, and emotional for our entire family. But we are doing our best to remain hopeful, stay positive, and support others who were also blindsided by a diagnosis they never saw coming.

Let’s get through it together with love, honesty, comfort, and support.

Always xoxo,

Kelly's sister, Lauren