A cancer survivor who was compared to a basketball star on meth in an internet meme has stepped forward to explain the devastating effects the illness has on the human body.<\/p>\n
Leon Mitchell, 31, from Washington, became the subject of a cruel online phenomenon when pictures of him undergoing chemotherapy were picked up by internet trolls.<\/p>\n
The meme likened Mitchell, who overcame the deadly disease, to NBA point guard Stephen Curry \u2014 if he were a meth addict.<\/p>\n
However, after battling cancer Mitchell was not about to let \u201ccruel\u201d<\/em> and \u201cdistasteful\u201d<\/em> people get the better of him on the internet.<\/p>\n He has posted an inspiring post on Instagram, describing the impact cancer had on him and reminding people he is much more than a meme.<\/p>\n \u201cI was the butt of a not so funny meme \u201cMeth Curry\u201d directed at the outward physical appearance that I display,\u201d<\/em> he said in the post.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that the meme was posted was a reminder of how distasteful and cruel people can be without background knowledge of the person in the bullseye of the target.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve struggled deeply for years with the devastating effects cancer treatment plagued on my body with.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n