My name is Alec Kupelian and I had Ewing’s Sarcoma in my left hip when I was 19 years old. With an oncologist for a dad, I knew my treatment would be the best it could possibly be, but when I finished treatment I realized that reintegrating back into ‘real life’ was even more challenging for me with my physical side effects, depression, and anxiety. That was 10 years ago and now I work for Teen Cancer America which works with the hospitals to better care for adolescents and young adults (AYA) diagnosed with cancer through treatment and beyond!
My Thriver List is curated to represent different stages of my cancer experience with a representative item from my different coping mechanisms over time.
1 Knitting Needles and Yarn
I did my treatment in-patient so I knew I was going to be bored stuck in my hospital bed. Having an activity that I could safely do from my bed that gave me a sense of accomplishment every time I finished a piece really got me through! I like bamboo needles but find what works for you!
2 Scented Hand Sanitizer
Smell is the sense most closely associated with memory, which is especially relevant because the hospital hand sanitizer quickly became synonymous with the nausea from chemo for me. Scented hand sanitizers allowed me to stay safe and also not throw up every time someone new walked into the room. Touchland is my favorite brand.
3 Roku Gin
Am I proud of the amount of alcohol I drank to cover up my depression right after treatment? No. But it was the log that kept me afloat whilst drowning in the darkest time of my depression. Then I learned about drinking good liquor instead of just trying to black out. This is my favorite affordable gin! Now I’m sober, but you should enjoy it too!
4 Ultimate Frisbee
I threw myself into sports and exercise as a way to gain control over my body after I had just lost so much control. Healthy for getting in shape and I definitely overdid it getting injured along the way. Ultimate Frisbee was my sport of choice at the time and I’m so grateful to my teammates!
5 D&D Dice
In terms of healthier copier mechanisms, escaping to a fantasy world to tell an epic story with my friends on a regular basis, yes please! Dungeons & Dragons quickly became a great way for me to stay connected and engage my mind in imagination instead of anxiety. I love metal dice but there are so many amazing options out there.
