START HERE!
Where do I go? What do I do? There are so many places to go on this blog!!! AHHHHH!
Normal life is often chaotic, frustrating, and can make you want to scream. This stress grows exponentially when you add the hell that is cancer to the picture.
Trying to learn how to navigate a new website (such as this one) can feel like getting dropped off in the middle of the wilderness with only a broken compass. You may think you know where you are going, but you end up hopelessly lost.
And it’s a disaster.
You are not Bear Grylls; you do not know how to read the stars to pinpoint your location. You don’t know which tree moss and bugs are edible and which will kill you. Starting a lifesaving fire out of two twigs and your shoelaces after you fall into a freezing river is FAR beyond your ability.
Death seems imminent.
You always knew the internet would be your undoing, but you thought it would be from YouTube overdose or going into a social media coma, not this…
BUT WAIT! DON’T PANIC!
The “Start Here” page is here to help!
"Table of Contents" for Complicated Cancer
First and foremost, I want to personally welcome you to my blog and give you a virtual hug, handshake, or fist bump (whichever you prefer). My name is Aspen. It’s so great to have you!!!
This Start Here page will ensure that you don’t waste time or feel stressed as you search for content on this site that is relevant to you.
Everything below will guide you and help you decide where to start!
Let’s begin:
What should I read first?
I recommend that everyone read all of My Cancer Story (which is the overview of my battle with leukemia) and My Personal Statement as a leukemia survivor.
This is important because:
1) I want you all to get to know me and see what kind of person I am. (This world is full of lunatics and sketchy people, after all).
2) You have to get to know a person and hear what challenges they have faced before you can really take the advice or encouragement they offer at face value.
(Disclaimer: Note that my experiences with chemotherapy were on the “worst-case-scenario” side. Typically, chemo treatment side effects are not so extreme. I don’t want you to read about my treatment and needlessly expect the worst.)
In addition, everyone should read the About page of my blog to learn why I created Complicated Cancer and the goals I have for this blog!
Finally, I recommend that everyone sign up to join the Complicated Cancer Community. It’s free and simple. No strings attached. This allows me to personally reach out to all my readers, keep everyone updated and informed, receive feedback, and create a platform to spread awareness about cancer.
You can join by clicking on the link above or going to the Join CC tab at the top of the page.
Where else can I learn about your life during and after chemotherapy?
As mentioned above, to read about my battle with leukemia, click on the My Story page to read the summary of what happened during my years of treatment.
While that story gives the 3000ft overview of my chemo treatment, more extensive details about the events that took place during those years can be found in the My Experiences category below it.
Below the My Life After Cancer tab where you can read my personal statement, click on one of the subcategories:
The My Trials category contains posts that describe the challenges I have faced after cancer and chemo.
The My Adventures category contains all of the epic and notable experiences I have had since my treatment ended.
Another option is to check out/follow me on my other accounts!
SOCIAL MEDIA:
I regularly make video content, where I discuss cancer things, talk about mental health, and make funny skits in an effort to make people laugh, so feel free to check out my Tiktok or my Instagram if that sounds good to you!
Or, just look up the name Aspen Heidekrueger on these platforms! (heck, even googling my name will give you some good information)
How do I navigate the rest of your blogging content?
If you need information or advice about surviving cancer and everything that comes along with it, visit the Advice Catagory.
Here is a list of the topics discussed there:
The more you know about cancer, the more equipped you will be to help give your body what it needs. This is what everyone needs to know about cancer and its treatment.
These posts talk about why cancer patients commonly develop anxiety, depression, and PTSD, the common symptoms that are experienced, and how to cope with these mental conditions.
One of the most significant but overlooked side effects of young adult cancer and chemotherapy treatment is the development of eating disorders. These posts discuss why cancer patients commonly develop these disorders and how I overcame anorexia and bulimia long after my chemo treatment ended.
These posts are written specifically for people who are trying to support cancer patients. Family, friends, and romantic partners often don’t understand what a cancer patient needs from them. These blog posts will help you learn what cancer patients want and how you can help.
Once you survive cancer, there is still a new battle to fight. Truly beating cancer does not mean just surviving your chemotherapy; it means facing your trauma, accepting how cancer changed you, growing, and overcoming. These posts are to help cancer survivors find peace and normalcy after their chemotherapy ends.
This life can be overwhelming and confusing. Gaining understanding, perspective, and knowledge about life is one of the things that have helped bring me the most peace after chemotherapy. If you need a little peace, certainty, or perspective, this category will benefit you.
Going through chemotherapy is often the most challenging part of having cancer. This category will be one of the best resources for those who are actively going through chemotherapy. All the “pro tips” on surviving the mental and physical trials of chemotherapy will be here.
If you need a reason to laugh or just something to inspire you, visit the encouragement tab!
There, you will find the following categories:
These posts are a collection of cool and VERY unique words that I have collected over the years. Many of these words have given a voice to the things that I felt in my battle with cancer. They also offer insight into how I see the world after all my challenges.
Everyone needs a little bit of inspiration and motivation to get through the day. While there are a lot of useless quotes out there, this is a collection that I believe everyone dealing with cancer can relate to. These posts discuss quotes that have made a difference during my own battle with cancer and how each one has helped shape my perceptions.
When I was sick, I had very few reasons to laugh or smile. But laughter and joy are vital in surviving cancer and recovering from it. This page is designed to give people battling cancer as many reasons to laugh and smile as possible!
What content will be most relevant to me?
The short answer:
Because we live in a world where cancer is popping up left and right, everything is somewhat relevant to you. The more you know about the reality of battling cancer, the better.
The more specific answer:
My blog post targets three specific categories of people:
1) People who are currently battling cancer.
Good news! Almost everything on this blog will be relevant to you! But I want to give a few disclaimers about certain sections.
The Surviving Chemotherapy category is specifically for you! As the name suggests, it will give you advice and encouragement as you endure chemo.
The Overcoming category gives advice and information about overcoming post-chemo challenges and is geared toward patients who are finished with treatment. If you are interested, please feel free to read these posts! But remember, you are just trying to survive chemo, and that is all you need to worry about right now.
The For Loved Ones posts are intended for your loved ones and supporters. These posts are not directed toward you, but they may also be an excellent resource for you to share with a loved one!
Also, avoid the My Story page and the My Trials and My Experiences catagories if you are trying not to be discouraged. I know that when I was sick, it wouldn’t have done me any good to hear half of those things.
2) The loved ones of cancer patients (friends, family, romantic partners, etc…)
Congratulations! Every single thing on this blog is something you could benefit from reading! All the information on my blog will help you understand how cancer patients are feeling and what they are going through. You need that perspective to truly understand how you can help.
However, as mentioned above, there is one category of posts written specifically for you:
The For Loved Ones posts are strictly for those who want to try and support people who are battling cancer.
3) Those who have survived cancer and chemo and are trying to recover and find normalcy in the aftermath.
Everything under the Advice Category will be applicable to you. I struggled the most with all of these things after my treatment ended.
The Overcoming category is specifically for you. This gives advice on how to recover and find normalcy after your treatment is over.
Anything Else?
You can contact me directly by visiting the Contact Me tab!
Find new Blog Posts by clicking on the Blog tab.
You can share my blog and certain posts by clicking on the social media icons located at the bottom of every page.
Sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of any page. This will allow you to be notified of any new posts.
If you like Complicated Cancer and what I do, you can donate to help me keep this blog up and running! You can do this by going to the Support CC tab.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS: The little magnifying glass in the top right corner will help you navigate!
“And So, The Adventure Begins…” – Every Person Who Went On Any Adventure Ever