Ebony’s Story: Cancer Treatment, Recovery, Identity & Asking for Help

Ebony shares what life looks like after finishing treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare salivary gland cancer. She talks candidly about recovery after radiation, including fatigue, sleep issues, facial tightness, daily exercises, and the “half-life” reality that symptoms can keep unfolding even after you ring the bell. She walks through the long arc of her diagnosis and treatment, from an early lump that initially tested benign to a turning point when surgery revealed malignancy and positive margins. After chemo and photon therapy, new symptoms on the road led to more scans, an exploratory biopsy, and the discovery that this cancer can be “sneaky,” tracking along nerves. That resulted in a major multi-surgeon operation, followed by highly targeted proton therapy and a new phase of healing shaped by scar tissue and severe lymphedema. Along the way, Ebony names the emotional terrain: grief that is not linear, fear of what’s around the corner, and the identity shift that comes with changes to her face and career as a performer. She also offers practical advice for patients early in treatment: prioritize nutrition, protect rest and boundaries, and get specific about how others can help, so support actually meets the moment.