In april 2019, Anna Norris was very sadly diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma a type of cancer.

Anna is the most amazing girl i know. Cancer affects so many people but it always affects the best people! I would Like to raise some money so Anna can put it towards her goals that I know she will achieve once she is better!

I will post updates as and when I can but here is some of Anna’s journey she is a very brave young girl at the age of just 21.

On the 27th march 2019, Anna Boarded her flight for her next adventure, the Camino Francés. Just over a month to hike 500 miles from St.Jean Pied De Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

And on the 3rd of April 2019, Travels were sadly cut short after being asked to come back to receive some test results done on a lump. It is unfortunately something called Hodgkin’s lymphoma which is a type of cancer. The hospital are doing everything they can and we are all positive the outcome will be good.

10th April 2019 - Anna and her family visited a consultant at the Macmillan Centre at QE Hospital. Blood tests were done and next stop is Addenbrookes next Wednesday to see Anna’s care team and where she will have her treatment. She will then need a scan to see if there are any more lumps. Once the results from these tests are in she will have chemotherapy one day every two weeks for 6 months. The good news is that this type of cancer is very treatable and her prognosis is good. It’s going to be a tough 6-8 months but hopefully she will come through it and still have a long and happy future.

Back from a long day at Addenbrookes. The good news is that Anna will hopefully be cured of the Hodgkin Lymphoma with treatment and it shouldn’t come back. We still don’t know if there are any more lumps just waiting for a scan appointment now.

24th April - Today Anna found out that her cancer is unfortunately Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The doctors are still confident it will be cured but a stronger chemo will need to be used. It is likely radiotherapy won’t be used because I have multiple lumps and the long term problems it can cause. Treatment is due to start next Tuesday at Addenbrooke’s🎗

30th April - Anna‘s first treatment has began.

9th May - This morning Anna braved the shave and said goodbye to her long hair. Anna’s hair loss is guaranteed so she has made the decision to donate her hair while it’s long thick and healthy rather than wait for it to start thinning and then balding.

Anna’s hair measuring at 22.5 inches/ 57cm will be donated to The Little Princess Trust to help make a wig for someone going through a similar experience to herself. It’s charities like these that make youngsters cancer journey’s that bit better🌸

21st May - Well Anna’s first cycle of chemo is done and dusted! Everything’s gone as well as theyvcould’ve hoped and things are looking positive.

Anna’s had a lot of people asking about the chemo/ how often etc so thought she’d do a post explaining. (Anna’s words)

I was originally told I’d be treated with ABVD (4 chemo drugs) and I’d have it one day every two weeks. However, my cancer turned out to be advanced so I was given the choice to have something more intense- which I did. I’m on a chemo called escalated BEACOPP. It contains 7 different drugs, the cycles are 3 weeks/ 21 days long, and I can have a maximum of 6 cycles. I spend day 1-3 in hospital as an inpatient. Day 1 takes approx six hours and day 2 and 3 four hours. My blood is checked every morning before receiving any chemo to check it is safe for me to be having it. All my blood tests/ chemo/ blood transfusions are done through my PICC line. This line will stay in for all of my treatment. It goes into at vein near the top of my arm and finishes in a large vein in my chest. Day 7 I got back to have bloods checked and another hour or so of chemo. It’s between day 7 and 14 that my immune system is at its absolute lowest and I tend to feel the roughest. I’m almost definitely neutropenic for this week (bloods would have to be taken daily to know for sure). This means we have to be extra careful, even of stuff just like my diet (no fresh bread/ raw egg/ unpasteurised cheese etc). Day 8,9,10 and 11 I have a G-CSF injection once a day. These injections are to encourage my bone marrow to release a certain type of white blood cell that helps to fight infection. I also take a course of steroids for the first two weeks (which are taken orally). There’s too many other tablets to list, but I have morn/noon/eve/ optional bed meds too. The third week of each cycle is a chance for my body to recover.

I’m feeling healthy and strong ready to start cycle 2 tomorrow💪🎗

24th May - Anna has posted this onto facebook - Left for hospital with mum on Wednesday and have just returned to find out while I’ve been gone, dad has replaced my 2’3 undersized single bed with a made to measure 4ft petite double! Have to have the best parents in the world, when they’re not by my side they’re either at work earning money for us or at home doing stuff like this for me. Days in bed are never nice but they’ll definitely be that bit better with my new bed😍

13th June - So while hooked up to the chemo pump today Anna’s had a manicure from the loveliest lady and bagged some make up freebies. Who said hospital visits aren’t glamorous💅

19th June - Anna has took up Baking!! And she is such a good one!

Anna got her results back from a progress PET scan she had done last week and we’re pleased to say the chemo is doing its’ thing. The cancerous areas have reduced massively in size and activity so everything’s heading in the right direction. It does however look as though she is still going to have to have the maximum amount of cycles (6), but getting rid of it all is the main thing😊

10th July - All treatment went ahead but didn’t get the blood counts they were hoping for. Anna’s neutrophil count (a type of white blood cells that fight infections) is just 260 meaning she has severe neutropenia. Anna’s haemoglobin count (red bloods cells/ anaemia) has also taken a knock despite weekly injections to try and push it up. A couple of things have been altered and they will have to be super careful with germs etc but hope to see some improvement soon🤞