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| A cancer diagnosis at any age is hard, but for a teenager it’s unthinkable | |
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| “Am I going to lose my hair?” was my first question for my doctor when he told me the news. I didn’t really know what was going on, but I knew it was serious and life-threatening. I was in shock, but seeing my mum cry made me even more upset. Getting a cancer diagnosis at any age is hard, but so much more so when you’re a teenager. I was on the edge of adulthood, but not yet fully equipped to handle it – I was preoccupied with friends, school and becoming my own person. | “Am I going to lose my hair?” was my first question for my doctor when he told me the news. I didn’t really know what was going on, but I knew it was serious and life-threatening. I was in shock, but seeing my mum cry made me even more upset. Getting a cancer diagnosis at any age is hard, but so much more so when you’re a teenager. I was on the edge of adulthood, but not yet fully equipped to handle it – I was preoccupied with friends, school and becoming my own person. |
| I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, when I was 14. When I got to University College London Hospital (UCLH), we were inundated with information about the treatment I was going to get, and the effects it would have. I remember sitting on my hospital bed afterwards just feeling brain dead from everything. It was impossible to take it all in. Even then, I don’t think I quite realised how serious it was. I decided I just needed to get on with it. My only clear focus was on getting back to school so that I didn’t have to drop a year. | I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, when I was 14. When I got to University College London Hospital (UCLH), we were inundated with information about the treatment I was going to get, and the effects it would have. I remember sitting on my hospital bed afterwards just feeling brain dead from everything. It was impossible to take it all in. Even then, I don’t think I quite realised how serious it was. I decided I just needed to get on with it. My only clear focus was on getting back to school so that I didn’t have to drop a year. |
| I think the way teenagers process the news is different from adults; it wasn’t something that was talked about in school or on the programmes we watched on TV. I only started noticing all the adverts and stories in papers about cancer after I went through it. Looking back, I realise it took a few years to come to terms with my diagnosis and how serious it was. | I think the way teenagers process the news is different from adults; it wasn’t something that was talked about in school or on the programmes we watched on TV. I only started noticing all the adverts and stories in papers about cancer after I went through it. Looking back, I realise it took a few years to come to terms with my diagnosis and how serious it was. |
| I took it day by day, and just tried to remain as positive as possible. I had days when I asked, “why me?”, but my family, friends and school kept me going. They made sure I had all my notes and homework from school, and I always enjoyed that fourth week of the chemo cycle when my immunity was building up again and I could venture into school for a few hours, and live that little bit of normality. I would often come home at lunchtime because I was so tired, but just being with my friends and having that little routine was always something I looked forward to. | I took it day by day, and just tried to remain as positive as possible. I had days when I asked, “why me?”, but my family, friends and school kept me going. They made sure I had all my notes and homework from school, and I always enjoyed that fourth week of the chemo cycle when my immunity was building up again and I could venture into school for a few hours, and live that little bit of normality. I would often come home at lunchtime because I was so tired, but just being with my friends and having that little routine was always something I looked forward to. |
| I was treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit at UCLH. On these units (there are 28 in hospitals across the UK) they do everything they can to make sure teenagers with cancer can still be teenagers. It’s the recognition that teenagers need different support from adults or children with cancer that is so important. The units had no time restrictions for visitors, nor were we woken up early. We could sleep in, wake up at midday and use a PlayStation with friends who came to visit, just like any other teenager. | I was treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit at UCLH. On these units (there are 28 in hospitals across the UK) they do everything they can to make sure teenagers with cancer can still be teenagers. It’s the recognition that teenagers need different support from adults or children with cancer that is so important. The units had no time restrictions for visitors, nor were we woken up early. We could sleep in, wake up at midday and use a PlayStation with friends who came to visit, just like any other teenager. |
| I don’t know how I would have gone through my treatment without my family. They did what they could to make me smile and keep me positive – whether it was watching TV with me all night because I couldn’t sleep, or doing jigsaw puzzles all afternoon. My mum was always by my side, going above and beyond for me. | I don’t know how I would have gone through my treatment without my family. They did what they could to make me smile and keep me positive – whether it was watching TV with me all night because I couldn’t sleep, or doing jigsaw puzzles all afternoon. My mum was always by my side, going above and beyond for me. |
| I never really talked about the fact that I was a cancer survivor until I got to university. This was the first time I was away from my family (especially my mum), and it was the first time I realised the effect cancer had had on me. Cancer changed my perspective on life. This September I’m celebrating the 10th anniversary of my diagnosis. I now know that you can’t take life for granted and I make sure I go to bed each night happy with what I achieved that day. My motto in life is: “Live each day as if it’s your last, and dream like you will live for ever.” | I never really talked about the fact that I was a cancer survivor until I got to university. This was the first time I was away from my family (especially my mum), and it was the first time I realised the effect cancer had had on me. Cancer changed my perspective on life. This September I’m celebrating the 10th anniversary of my diagnosis. I now know that you can’t take life for granted and I make sure I go to bed each night happy with what I achieved that day. My motto in life is: “Live each day as if it’s your last, and dream like you will live for ever.” |
| • Leena Sirpal, 24, from London, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma on at the age of 14 | • Leena Sirpal, 24, from London, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma on at the age of 14 |