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[MissBlackEyeliner]

So, I have this character who is in her late teens and dying of cancer. In the process of accepting her fate however, people around town start getting murdered and she is given the opportunity to figure out why by a mysterious man (who, obviously, she winds up getting attracted to). My question then, is this - what kind of cancer is she dying from? I need something that's going to allow her to be mobile (she'll be walking around town quite a bit) and I also need her to still have her hair.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[PISCRIBE]

Welcome...love the name.

But as to your question. If she is terminal the cancer can't be early stages of anything. If you are looking for this to be a series, she'll have to be in remission or eventually die. The first thing that comes to mind would be breast cancer, cervical cancer, melanomas of an invasive type. I am not a medical professional by any stretch of that definition (even first aid merit badges qualify in my area) I do know that chemotherapy side effects include losing one's hair. And why can't she wear a wig, Elizabeth Edwards did.

There are several sources as to types of cancer on the web. Some are superficially in their information and others are very detailed. WebMD comes to mind as well as the American Cancer Society.

Is she still going to high school? Will she end up in hospice? Questions abound but hope this helps.

Best of luck.
Jeff

[MissBlackEyeliner]

Thank you. I'd never really given any thought to a wig, but that way it's like she could have different moods with different wigs. It adds a whole subtext to the story.

Also, I will check out web m.d. I haven't reached the stage in my writing yet where I'm comfortable talking about a dying teen, is that weird? I have this story itching to get out, but I feel guilty writing it. Ever felt that way?

[Dave Freas]

I have this story itching to get out, but I feel guilty writing it. Ever felt that way?

Every time I start kicking around a new idea or start writing it.

If you're not feeling guilty, you're not pushing your writing envelope, not trying new things, not digging deeper into your psyche for the core of a great story.

Get used to it.

Dave

[linda]

I'm not certain on the medical details, but I've known two people who have died from cancer of the blood.  Both took a long time to pass away. 

A third person I've known had Leukemia.  She finally overcame that disease after a long fight and various experimental treatment programs.

You might check the details on these two diseases and see if they might be what you are looking for. 

And I see no reason for you to feel quilty about writing about a dying teen.  One of the people who died from blood cancer was a 6 year old girl.  Children and teenagers die, or suffer from life-threatening illnesses.  They don't feel comfortable talking about it with their friends or their parents.  I think a book where the main character has a terminal disease is a good idea.  How else will they find out what it's like to have a terminal disease and the way your life changes?

I would suggest that you don't go completely black and dismal with it - some hope is always needed.

Linda

[PISCRIBE]

I agree with Linda. I was writing a book in my detective series and the hero had to make the euthansia decision on a partner who was not going to recover. Guilt was everywhere and I shed a tear or two or three. If I could find a way to bring her back I certainly would.

But the point was that even though she died, her actions prior to that helped my hero save the real victim. So her death was not in vain. And her death was not in the original outline. It just seemed like the thing to do. She might disagree but my keyboard, my rules.

Good luck with your story.
Jeff