PROFILE
Name: Oluwasina Tobiloba Elizabeth
Age: 21
Location: Oyo State, Nigeria
Diagnosis: Colorectal Cancer (Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma)
Date Diagnosed: March 2022
Introduction
Before cancer, I was that person, very social, very active, full of life. But in March 2022, everything changed. I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer (signet ring adenocarcinoma). It’s still hard to put into words how it all began. At first, I just couldn’t poop well. Then came the weight loss. The reoccurring malaria. The thyroid issues. It didn’t make sense until it did.
When I got the diagnosis, I didn’t feel strong. I felt afraid. I felt confused. I went completely numb. I cried, and my mind raced with questions I wasn’t ready to face: Am I going to die? How did this happen? What now? It was like time split into two: the life I had before… and everything that would follow.
Treatment Phase
One thing I was incredibly grateful for was access to the right information. My doctors didn’t leave me in the dark. They explained everything I needed to know about my treatment, and that knowledge gave me a strange kind of power. Even when things felt out of control, at least I understood what was happening to me.
The Power of Information and a Good Medical Team
The hardest part? Going through rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and seeing no change. That silence, that lack of progress, was louder than any diagnosis. But I kept going. Even when my body was tired. Even when it felt like my spirit had nothing left.
Through it all, what kept me grounded was my faith and the unwavering support from my family and friends. They were my anchor in every storm.
How Cancer Changed Me
Being a survivor isn’t about “going back to normal.” That version of me doesn’t exist anymore and that’s okay. Survivorship, for me, means carrying a story that changed me forever. It means embracing a new normal, one that honors my scars, my triggers, my strength, and even my softness. It means I now value time, peace of mind, and boundaries more than ever before. I’ve become someone who doesn’t take life or laughter for granted.
To Anyone Newly Diagnosed
Take a deep breath. You don’t need to be brave all the time. You don’t need to have all the answers.
Let yourself feel the fear, the confusion, the anger. It’s all valid. Ask questions. Bring someone with you to appointments. Advocate for yourself. Let people love you but also protect your energy. There’s no “perfect” way to go through cancer. Do it your way. And above all: You are not alone. There’s an entire community of us who’ve walked this path. We see you. We support you. And one day, you’ll look back and realize just how powerful you really are.
How I’m Healing Now
Healing didn’t stop with surviving. I’m still learning, still growing, still nurturing myself daily. Here’s how I care for my mental and emotional health now:
- “Today, I protect my peace. I give myself space to feel, to breathe, and to rest.”
- “Caring for my mind and heart is not selfish—it’s survival.”
- “Some days I need therapy. Some days I need quiet. Some days I cry or sleep or laugh. Healing, for me, means being honest with what I need—without guilt.”
- “Surviving was step one. Healing is step two.”
Mentorship?
Yes, I’m open to mentoring others. If my journey can make someone feel less alone, more informed, or more hopeful then it was worth it because at the end of the day, stronger doesn’t mean perfect. It means choosing to fight, to rise, and to love yourself even when everything hurts. So reach out to SyncedCancer.
Stronger, in Every Sense of the Word
Being strong isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about:
- Choosing to fight, even when you’re afraid.
- Getting up when your body hurts.
- Facing the mirror and learning to love the person staring back.
- Finding joy in the small wins.
- Owning your story, even the messy parts—and using it to uplift others.
Because that’s what survivors do. We turn scars into strength. We turn stories into light.
And in my case, “The colostomy I have is a scar to my victory.”
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The Stronger By SyncedCancer spotlights the courage, vulnerability, and hope of cancer survivors