When Carissa Wascher noticed a lump in her abdomen during her last semester of college, she didn’t think much of it. At 23, she was busy balancing school, work, and her commute—tiredness and small health concerns felt normal.
“In October 2021, I woke up feeling this pressure in my abdomen,” she recalls. “It felt like something was pushing upward. A week later, I felt it again, and this time I noticed a lump in my pelvic area. But I thought it was hormone-related because I have PCOS. I didn’t think it was anything serious.”
But the lump didn’t go away.
An ultrasound suggested it was a fibroid, but when further tests revealed a mass filled with fluid, Carissa’s doctors began to suspect something more serious. An MRI later confirmed a seven-inch tumor. “The doctor told my mom it wasn’t a fibroid, and it looked cancerous. I had surgery in December 2021 to remove the mass, but even after that, they couldn’t figure out what type of cancer it was,” Carissa says.
“For over a year, her medical team referred to it as an undifferentiated sarcoma. Then, after a second surgery at City of Hope, the tumor was reclassified as myxoid pleomorphic liposarcoma. It was such a relief to finally have answers,” she explains. “I think a lot of people underestimate how long it can take to get the right diagnosis with sarcoma. It took time, but finding a team that really understands sarcoma made all the difference.”
Navigating Uncertainty
As someone who didn’t even know what sarcoma was before her diagnosis, Carissa has spent the past two years not only navigating treatment but also educating herself about the disease. “I didn’t get to choose this,” she says. “You just have to be strong. You have to go through treatment if you want to live. But it’s not always a choice—it’s just what you do.” Reflecting on her journey, Carissa says cancer has shaped her into a more resilient person. “I bounce back more, mentally and physically, than I did before. I think it’s made me resilient in ways I wasn’t before. Of course, there are parts of myself I miss about who I was before cancer, and I know I’ll never be her again. But I’ve grown a lot, and that’s not all negative.”
Support and Connection
Through it all, Carissa’s mom has been her biggest supporter. “My mom is my number one,” she says. “She’s been there for me throughout my entire treatment, at every scan and doctor’s appointment. It’s really important to have someone else there as a second set of ears because, as the patient, you miss things or forget questions. It’s been so nice to have her by my side.” Carissa also found strength in connecting with others who understood her experience. “There’s this app called CancerBuddy—it’s like social media for cancer patients. You can meet other people your age with similar diagnoses. It’s been really important for me because it helps you feel less alone. It makes you realize there are people out there who 100% understand what you’re going through.”
Finding Joy in the Midst of Suffering
Early in her treatment, Carissa adopted the motto “joy in the midst of suffering.” “I would always see the word ‘joy’ in the most random places,” she says. “It felt like a reminder that my circumstances don’t determine my joy. I even started making bracelets with ‘joy’ on them and giving them to friends, family, and strangers. My faith has shown me that beauty and goodness can still exist, even in deep pain and suffering.” For Carissa, this perspective didn’t come easily. “I had a strong faith even before my diagnosis, but I never thought it was possible to feel joy in the middle of something so hard. It’s been a process, but that reminder helps me wake up every morning and gives me a passion for life.”
Pursuing Her Dreams
Despite everything she’s faced, Carissa has continued pursuing her goals. “I was still able to graduate college,” she says. “I majored in Rehabilitation Sciences, and now I want to go to grad school for a doctorate in occupational therapy. I’ve worked with OTs after my surgeries, and I’d love to work in oncology and pediatrics.” Carissa is starting a new treatment soon—a pill therapy—and hopes it will give her the stability she needs to move forward with school. “I never thought life would turn out this way,” she says. “But I want to keep sharing my story, spreading awareness about liposarcoma, and pushing for better research and treatment options.” Carissa’s journey is one of resilience, advocacy, and hope. Through it all, she’s found a voice strong enough to inspire others and a sense of joy that remains unshaken, even in the midst of the hardest trials.
