Fighting Cancer Recurrence: Xia Dan Needs Your Help

Every cancer diagnosis brings with it a battle that goes far beyond words. Today, I find myself in the fiercest fight of my life—a fight for survival. I come to you not only with a plea for help but with the deepest hope that I can one day give back, to be a source of light for those who are walking through the same valley of darkness that I am now.

My name is Xia Dan. I am a wife, a woman who has known deep love and devastating loss, and I am a breast cancer patient. My journey hasn’t been easy, but in the face of this relentless disease, I refuse to surrender. I was born in Yichun, China, and grew up with parents who taught me to be strong, resilient, and courageous. Little did I know how much I would need those lessons as life brought unimaginable challenges my way.

At 13, I lost both of my parents—my father to an accident and my mother to grief. Orphaned, I fought my way through the loneliness and pain, determined to build a life they would have been proud of. With the help of family, I finished school, graduated from university, and eventually found love when I met my husband, Xuefeng. After years of standing alone at family gatherings, I finally had a family of my own.

But life has a way of testing the very core of who we are. Just two months after our wedding, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, taking away our jobs and our sense of security. But even in the uncertainty, joy found us—I was pregnant. The happiness that filled our hearts was like a dream. But that dream was cruelly shattered when, at six and a half months, I lost our baby. Forced to miscarry due to lockdown policies, we were left in despair. My husband, heartbroken, sought justice for us, only to be met with violence and threats. He lost his sight for eight months and suffered severe injuries.

In the midst of this, I sank into deep postpartum depression. I felt lost, broken, and overwhelmed by the weight of it all. But even in those dark days, my husband and our dogs gave me a reason to keep going, to believe that somehow, life would get better. Just as I began to find my footing again, I was dealt another crushing blow—I was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer.

The fear was unbearable. The pain of surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy nearly broke me. Each day was a battle not only for my body but for my spirit. The financial toll was staggering, as many of my treatments weren’t covered by insurance. Yet through it all, I kept fighting, praying, hoping against hope that I would beat this disease, that I could live out the love I had found with Xuefeng.

For a time, it seemed my prayers were answered. I was finally showing signs of improvement. We dreamed of reuniting in Canada, of beginning a new chapter in our lives. But then, just weeks ago, I received the news no cancer patient ever wants to hear—my cancer had returned. The devastation was overwhelming. Once again, my life hangs in the balance.

But I am not giving up. I can’t. I refuse to let this be the end of my story. I still believe in the power of love, the strength of the human spirit, and the miracles that can happen when people come together. That’s why I am asking for your help today. I am fighting not just for myself, but for the chance to pay it forward. If I survive this, I want to dedicate my life to helping others who are suffering from cancer. I want to be there for them in their darkest moments, to listen, to comfort, and to remind them that they are not alone.

Cancer is a brutal, isolating battle. But no one should have to fight it alone. Your support will not only give me the chance to keep fighting but also the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others who are going through this terrible disease. I dream of becoming a cancer liaison volunteer, walking alongside patients, answering their questions, and offering them the hope that I am desperately clinging to now.

This is more than just a plea for help. It is a cry from the depths of my soul. I want to live. I want to fight for more time with my husband, to cherish the love we have fought so hard to protect. I want to give back to the world that has given me so much, even through the hardest times. Please, if you feel moved by my story, help me hold on to life. Help me fight for just a little more time to love, to give, and to live.

May my story remind us all that in the fight against cancer, every moment is precious, every life is worth saving, and with compassion, we can help others hold on to hope, even in the darkest of times.