In 2020 whilst I was applying to medicine, I was suddenly diagnosed with an extremely rare ovarian germ cell cancer. I underwent 2 operations, sat my A-levels and started medical school in September 2021. However, 4 weeks in and I was suffering symptoms from what I thought was long COVID. A chest X-ray sent me straight to A&E where I was told I’d relapsed and that I had to drop out of first year.
Cancer had spread through my lymph nodes, mediastinum and lungs. 6 rounds of chemotherapy and 9 rounds of an experimental immunotherapy later and I’m in 2nd year now. After I’d been admitted to the ICU, they transferred me to the Edinburgh TCT ward, where I was able to enjoy time with my parents during the start of my chemo. The privilege of having a private side room and a common room with a kitchen, pool table, TV, endless snacks, crafts and games, was a silver lining to such an uncertain time in my life. Throughout the whole 3 years of my cancer journey I’ve had unlimited access to as much support from the trust as I needed. Often you need to get things off your chest that you can’t necessarily say to the people closest to you, and I could contact the clinical support nurses for a vent or emotional support at any time.
The nurses and youth coordinators guide you in the direction of resources that I wouldn’t have come across otherwise and they plan amazing get-togethers with other young people. I have incredible memories from my Ellen Macarthur sailing trip, a retreat in the lake district or the Find Your Sense of Tumour conference weekend. These moments are always so healing, joyous and give you a sense of clarity and reassurance that’s hard to find when your life feels clouded by cancer in day-to-day life. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet so many other young people with similar experiences and made friends that I still see regularly today. The sense of community the trust delivers is unmatched, and it opens the doors to a much-needed sense of wellbeing and hope.
