At age 20, Shardé Fultz was busy working full-time and enrolled in Oakland University’s dance program. She dreamed of becoming a professional dancer, but a persistent cough ended up changing the course of her life.
“After having the cough for a while, my mom insisted that I see a doctor,” says Shardé, who is now 29. “I had a mass in my chest the size of a small watermelon and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Because I was so young, I was optimistic that I’d get treatment and resume my regular activities quickly.”
Over the next two years, Shardé received chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant at Karmanos. She became cancer-free, but developed an intestinal infection that required immediate surgery and an ileostomy. That procedure requires her to wear a pouch that collects body waste. She also developed Graft Versus Host Disease, which can cause skin rashes, gastrointestinal disorders and other issues.
“The cancer treatments and recovery time took up about six years of my life,” Shardé says. “It put my education on hold, it impacted my dance abilities, and I didn’t have a chance to date or explore relationships. I struggled with seeing my friends graduate from college while I was put on pause.”
Shardé also noticed there were no other patients in her age group when she went to her cancer treatments.
“All the other patients were older than me by decades,” she says. “It made me feel more alone.”
Thankfully, Shardé learned about the Young Adult Group, a support group for cancer patients and survivors in their 20s and 30s which meets monthly at Karmanos’ Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center in Farmington Hills. The members support each other by sharing their experiences with cancer and the accompanying social and emotional challenges.
“A young adult may not know anyone else his or her age with cancer,” says Kathleen Hardy, LMSW, oncology social worker and counselor at Karmanos who facilitates the Young Adult Group meetings. “Feelings of isolation can make a patient more likely to have depression or anxiety. That’s why the Young Adult Group is critically important.”
Group members discuss issues like physical changes and fertility issues, returning to school or work, and pursuing relationships.
“Many young patients wonder when they should tell the person they just started dating that they have cancer,” Hardy says. “The group chooses topics they want to discuss. They have a lot of power to help each other by sharing their common experiences. It’s inspiring to see them go from feeling overwhelmed by cancer to going back to pursue their lives. They face their challenges very admirably and their courage is very inspiring.”
Shardé, who has been cancer-free for seven years, continues to attend the Young Adult Group and often travels across the country to attend survivor retreats. She’s working as a home health aide and taking online classes in family and human development through Arizona State University. She’s also resumed dating.
“The Young Adult Group is a beacon of hope for me,” she says. “It makes such a difference knowing there are other people in my age group who have had similar experiences. The group members remind me of how much I’ve grown since I received my cancer diagnosis.
“And we don’t just talk about cancer. We might joke with each other about our funny dating experiences or other daily things unrelated to cancer. We can be very honest or very silly with each other. The group is a safe space to be yourself and share things that we might not be able to with others. The support and friendships are worth cherishing.”
The Young Adult Group is open to all cancer patients in the community who are in their 20s and 30s. Meetings take place on the last Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Karmanos’ Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center in Farmington Hills. For more information on the Young Adult Group, contact Kathleen Hardy at 248-538-4712. For a listing of all support groups, go here.