Sepsis is a serious condition that occurs when your body's immune system damages its own tissues and organs while trying to fight a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. This can lead to shock, organ failure and even death.

A cancer diagnosis and certain treatments, like chemotherapy, can weaken the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight infections. This puts cancer patients at increased risk for sepsis.<...

On December 12, 2011, two weeks prior to my 25th birthday, I got a present I never wished for: "You have breast cancer."

I'd heard the term cancer before -- after I'd had adrenal cancer as an 18-month-old.

But this time I was all grown up and about to start nursing school.

How my adult cancer journey began

One day I felt a lump on my breast, which led to a doctor's visit. That led...