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| I was 14 when I was told I had cancer. It inspired me to pursue my dream | I was 14 when I was told I had cancer. It inspired me to pursue my dream |
| (25 days later) | |
| I was 14 years old when I was told I had cancer. It was just before Christmas in 2009 and I’d had terrible pain in my side for several weeks. After being seen at four different hospitals, I ended up at Birmingham children’s hospital. It was there that I was told I had alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, words that meant absolutely nothing to me at first. I soon realised they meant cancer. | I was 14 years old when I was told I had cancer. It was just before Christmas in 2009 and I’d had terrible pain in my side for several weeks. After being seen at four different hospitals, I ended up at Birmingham children’s hospital. It was there that I was told I had alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, words that meant absolutely nothing to me at first. I soon realised they meant cancer. |
| Before my diagnosis, I was far more concerned with schoolwork and my friends – normal things 14-year-olds have to deal with. But my world had suddenly been turned upside down. I now had to deal with countless hospital tests and appointments, doctor visits and treatments. I lost all my hair – I even lost my eyebrows and eyelashes, which was especially hard to come to terms with. | Before my diagnosis, I was far more concerned with schoolwork and my friends – normal things 14-year-olds have to deal with. But my world had suddenly been turned upside down. I now had to deal with countless hospital tests and appointments, doctor visits and treatments. I lost all my hair – I even lost my eyebrows and eyelashes, which was especially hard to come to terms with. |
| I was treated on a ward in Birmingham children’s hospital, alongside other people my age, which helped me maintain a sense of normality. Despite not being able to attend school with all my friends, I could still continue my education at home and in hospital with tutors. Studying became an escape for me. It offered me the chance to feel like a normal teenager and a distraction from the fact that I had cancer. Yes, I was having chemotherapy drugs pumped into my body every few weeks and having radiotherapy treatment too, but completing maths exercises and doing my English coursework gave me a much-needed focus. | I was treated on a ward in Birmingham children’s hospital, alongside other people my age, which helped me maintain a sense of normality. Despite not being able to attend school with all my friends, I could still continue my education at home and in hospital with tutors. Studying became an escape for me. It offered me the chance to feel like a normal teenager and a distraction from the fact that I had cancer. Yes, I was having chemotherapy drugs pumped into my body every few weeks and having radiotherapy treatment too, but completing maths exercises and doing my English coursework gave me a much-needed focus. |
| It was during my cancer treatment that I met Professor Pam Kearns, who heads up the Cancer Research UK clinical trials unit at the University of Birmingham. She was, and continues to be, an incredible doctor who saved my life. Throughout my illness, she looked after me, helped me to understand what was happening and explained why I needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was an amazing support. | It was during my cancer treatment that I met Professor Pam Kearns, who heads up the Cancer Research UK clinical trials unit at the University of Birmingham. She was, and continues to be, an incredible doctor who saved my life. Throughout my illness, she looked after me, helped me to understand what was happening and explained why I needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was an amazing support. |
| Pam didn’t just help me get through treatment, however. She inspired me to pursue my dreams of working in science and has been an incredible role model and mentor. Before I was ill, I’d wanted to study medicine at university. But after my diagnosis and treatment, I’d had enough of hospitals and became really interested in the science behind the medicine instead. As a female doctor and scientist, Pam was definitely an inspiration for me choosing this path. I chose to study cancer biology and immunology at Bristol University. Since finishing my degree, I have done a Masters in biotechnology and am due to start a new job in London later this year. I met Pam in difficult circumstances, but I’m so glad I did. We are still in touch, and she’s always interested in what I’m up to – whether that’s checking in on how I’m doing personally, or how my career is going. | Pam didn’t just help me get through treatment, however. She inspired me to pursue my dreams of working in science and has been an incredible role model and mentor. Before I was ill, I’d wanted to study medicine at university. But after my diagnosis and treatment, I’d had enough of hospitals and became really interested in the science behind the medicine instead. As a female doctor and scientist, Pam was definitely an inspiration for me choosing this path. I chose to study cancer biology and immunology at Bristol University. Since finishing my degree, I have done a Masters in biotechnology and am due to start a new job in London later this year. I met Pam in difficult circumstances, but I’m so glad I did. We are still in touch, and she’s always interested in what I’m up to – whether that’s checking in on how I’m doing personally, or how my career is going. |
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| Now, nearly nine years after my cancer diagnosis, I look back on my illness and what I went through. Although it was devastating at the time, it has made me into the person I am today. Because I had cancer I met amazing people and had experiences I never thought I would have – both good and bad. It has definitely made me a stronger person. I would not have got through it if it weren’t for the support of all my incredible friends and family, and the staff at Birmingham children’s hospital. Pam was a huge part of the whole process and has helped shape me into who I am today. | Now, nearly nine years after my cancer diagnosis, I look back on my illness and what I went through. Although it was devastating at the time, it has made me into the person I am today. Because I had cancer I met amazing people and had experiences I never thought I would have – both good and bad. It has definitely made me a stronger person. I would not have got through it if it weren’t for the support of all my incredible friends and family, and the staff at Birmingham children’s hospital. Pam was a huge part of the whole process and has helped shape me into who I am today. |
| • Lucy Speechley is supporting Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens and TK Maxx for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September | • Lucy Speechley is supporting Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens and TK Maxx for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September |
| If you would like to contribute to our Blood, sweat and tears series about experiences in healthcare, read our guidelines and get in touch by emailing sarah.johnson@theguardian.com | If you would like to contribute to our Blood, sweat and tears series about experiences in healthcare, read our guidelines and get in touch by emailing sarah.johnson@theguardian.com |
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