I realized that I just really wanted to live!

We hadn’t seen Yana Zaimenko, now 29 years old, for more than six years—since her recovery from Burkitt lymphoma. It’s hard to recognize the Yana from 2009 in the serious and confident woman she is today. Yana doesn’t look or think of herself as a cancer survivor—she simply enjoys her life. We asked her how she learned to do that during and after her treatment.

What are you doing these days? You look very serious!
You’re spot-on about the seriousness! I work at the Istrinsky District Administration in the Land Use Department. It’s a smart and important job—very grown-up, very businesslike.

Back in 2009, you weren’t a “stern grown-up” yet. You were a third-year ecological engineering student—until your life was disrupted by illness.
That’s right. I was young, pretty, and full of life. I loved following fashion, dressing up, going to the theater and concerts, hanging out with friends, and dating. Then everything changed. I started getting tired easily. I’d come home from class and just go to bed or read. Then my teeth started to hurt. I went from dentist to dentist, doctor to doctor. It was draining, mentally and physically. Eventually, I was diagnosed at Botkin Hospital: Burkitt lymphoma. It was terrifying.

Dr. Alexei Pshokin, my doctor, explained exactly what I was in for. I remember clearly how much I wanted to live. I didn’t yet think about how I’d do it—just that I had to. I wanted to stay with my family.

How did your family react?
It was a shock for everyone—my parents and my brother. There were a lot of tears. My mom went into a kind of emotional shutdown. She says she could only focus on one thing: her child’s health. Everything else just fell away. I remember her saying something profound—that our soul somehow knows what’s coming and is prepared for the trials of fate. My loved ones gave me enormous support, and I did my best to support them too.

You were 22 at the time, in the “young adult” category, so your support group was mostly peers. What did you do with your free time?
I was lucky to be surrounded by young people. We created our own small world, a vibrant life of our own. We walked around the hospital, played cards, laughed, argued, and even fought sometimes. Hospital life is different—it runs on strict schedules and tough treatments—but people still want to live, feel emotions, and be happy. Even while battling cancer.

How did you come into contact with the Podari Zhizn Foundation?
The Foundation’s volunteers visited regularly, but at first, I didn’t want anything to do with them. For the first month, I only wanted to be around my family. But slowly, the volunteers became an important part of my life. With them, life started to feel more colorful again. They didn’t come to pity us—they came to talk, laugh, and have fun. The Foundation helped heal not just my body but my spirit. I still have contact info for the people who were with me, and we stay in touch, send holiday greetings, and follow each other’s lives online.

What role does charity play in your life today?
I want to help others. In our small town, people know my story, so I often get calls from friends of friends who don’t know where to turn. I share my experience, offer advice, and connect them with my amazing doctor. In fact, I talk more about my illness now than I did right after recovery. Sometimes I think about starting something helpful here in Istra—maybe find a few like-minded people. It’s a big task, though.

How long did it take to return to a normal life after treatment?
I was discharged in the winter and didn’t go back to university until fall. That half-year was my real recovery—I rebuilt my strength and got ready to dive back into life. But emotionally, it was the hardest time. Every ache made me panic. I had to learn that it’s normal to get the flu or fall down—it doesn’t mean the cancer is back. I was also incredibly impatient. I wanted it all, right away—a degree, a dream job, a millionaire husband. I felt like I’d earned a reward from life. But instead, I had to study, take exams, and rebuild step by step. That was the real work. And no, I didn’t find love right away—can you believe it?

But you did eventually?
Yes! I’m married now, and my husband is amazing. He knows my past but doesn’t give me special treatment. Sometimes I wish he would! But he’s always seen me as a healthy person—and my parents did too. I’m grateful for that.

Do you ever cut yourself some slack because of your illness?
No, not really. My illness doesn’t hold me back, and I wouldn’t say it gave me any magical insights. But it did shape who I am. I’ve always been goal-oriented, but now I treasure life more deeply. I still feel like I can’t get enough of it. I’ve stopped putting limits on myself. If I beat cancer, I can overcome anything.

Do you have any hobbies?
Yes! I love sports. I go to the gym three times a week and always set new goals. I learned to snowboard and try to go to the mountains every winter.

What would you say to kids currently undergoing treatment?
You have to want to live. Don’t let go of that desire—no matter what. If you want to live, you’ll find the strength for everything else.

Zhenya Vaneeva wrote down 12 stories from young cancer survivors. Every month we will bring you one of these touching personal talks.