Johnny Cathcart, 30

When were you diagnosed with cancer?

I was first diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a fast-growing tumor in the cerebellum (in the back of the brain), when I was 12 years old. Then I had a recurrence when I was 15.

How did that complicate being a teenager?

It was like juggling bricks and dropping several on my toes. Just keeping up with teen culture and trying to be normal is a struggle in itself. Trying to do that when I was sick, bald, and weak, and had to wear hearing aids because the radiation damaged my hearing, was really tough.

You've written a memoir called Hotpants. Where does that title come from?

I forgot my shorts at cross country practice one day in middle school and none of the guys had an extra pair. I borrowed a very short, bright pink pair from one of the girls. When I was out running someone yelled, "Hey Johnny, those are hot pants!" At practice the next day, someone had written "Johnny Hot Pants" on my running bag, and the nickname stuck. In high school, everyone was calling me "Hot Pants." The cross country team even got new uniforms with the initials JHP, for Johnny Hot Pants, sewn in the shoulders.

What is the message of your book?

It's about faith. My cross country coach once told me that when you get to the point where you think you can't go on, that's where faith begins. I wanted to share my spiritual journey with cancer, which was so intense that I couldn't not share it.

You've recently been making films. Did you always want to do that?

When I had a Make-a-Wish experience as a kid I got to visit the set of The Cider House Rules. I remember thinking, "This is what I'm going to do when I grow up." I actually got a part in the movie as an orphan.

What sort of films are you making?

I'm working on two documentaries. One is about high school cross country runners who were former homeless drug addicts, and another is about a cancer survivor who lost her leg as a young adult and went on to compete in the Paralympics.

What would you say to a 12-year-old going through cancer?

I would say, "This sucks right now, but you're going to be such a strong person when you come out of this. Hold on for the ride. Stay with it. There are so many powerful and important things on the other side of cancer."