The official magazine for Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity, one of the oldest women's fraternities founded in 1893.
Lexi stayed home in Tennessee while completing six rounds of chemotherapy. She was on a 21-day cycle where she completed five days in a row of chemo in the hospital with 16 days off. She was the youngest person in the hospital's cancer unit.
During her treatment, Lexi said she felt isolated and wanted to connect with others about her cancer journey. She turned to Tik Tok and has had the opportunity to connect with people across the world who have gone through similar situations.
"What I really love is all of us kind of got diagnosed around the same time, and we all kind of started posting videos around the same time. So, we also all rang the bell around the same time, which is really, really sweet," Lexi said.
We often think that ringing the bell means you are cancer free, but it only commemorates the end of treatment. Cancer patients continue their care post-treatment and have scans to see if they are in remission. Lexi is proud to say she's now been in remission for three months. She is back on campus with her friends and is set to graduate with the rest of her class. Acclimating back to campus has been a bright spot for Lexi, but also a bit of a challenge.
"It was so challenging. I'm still struggling with it. It is something people my age don't experience, so it's hard to relate. I have to re-learn how to live in my body as a college student-taking breaks, walking slower, and telling my professors I am in remission. I had to tell all my professors on the first day that I had cancer so that they knew days I need to miss related to cancer with scans and bloodwork," Lexi said. "I'm still learning the limits of my body. There is no guide for how to go back to college after you get cancer."
One bright spot has been making new friends with New Members of the Theta Nu Chapter. New Members have continued to comment messages of support on Lexi's Tik Tok videos. "Those friendships have formed, and that has been nice," she said.
But Lexi said she's not the same person she was last year. She's back at Elon with a different perspective on life.
"You think you're invincible until you're not," Lexi said. "And, I mean, until you're having to sit there and sign a will at 20-things like that just really put it into perspective. You really just fought the hardest battle. Anything else is just a bump in the road."
When asked about what she hopes others will take away from her story, she said that cancer touches everyone and to be there for those who are diagnosed by checking in on them. Donate to organizations that support those with cancer and donate blood if you're able.
"Health is a crown that is invisible until you don't have it. Literally in a second it can be taken away, and your life gets put on hold. Proactively take care of your body. Live as healthy as you can and listen to your body. If you feel something is wrong. get it checked out. At least someone has checked out," she said.
"Health is a crown that is invisible until you don't have it. Literally in a second it can be taken away, and your life gets put on hold."