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Maine Graduate Strives for Academic Goals Despite Cancer
By Catherine Groux
Posted September 20, 2012 12:00 PM
A Maine man is determined to earn a master's degree, despite his cancer diagnosis.When 24-year-old Matt Nelson graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor's degree in marketing, he hoped to land a job as soon as possible, The Free Press reports. However, his life was turned upside down in a matter of months when doctors found a large cancerous tumor in his chest.
Nelson was diagnosed with stage-one lymphoma, which is the most common type of blood cancer, the American Cancer Fund states. This disease affects the lymphatic system, or the network of nodes and vessels that carry infection-preventing white blood cells throughout the body.
Since his diagnosis, Nelson has lost his hair, struggles to regain his strength and consistently battles with his weakened immune system. Still, he said getting cancer has given him the chance to reflect on his personal and academic goals. Currently, Nelson is planning on going back to school to earn a master's degree in marriage and family counseling.
"Anything can happen," he told The Free Press. "I'm 24 and I never would have expected this to happen, but you never expect you could die tomorrow. It reminds me of how important it is to live a life that you enjoy and try to be the best person that you can be and help people."
