I have decided to do this swimathon for these amazing charities after seeing how cruel this disease can be. 10 years ago as a swimmer this would have been an easy challenge for me but 10 years on this is a massive challenge!!

As some of you may or may not know my boyfriend Sam has battled cancer 4 times and he has won! Starting off in 2014 followed by relapses in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

The 4th time is something we have experienced together. In late February 2018 not long after we got together Sam receieved the devastating news that the cancer had come back. With it being in the same location as the previous it highlighted not all of the cancer cells had been removed from the previous op. It measuring at approx the size of walnut.
This was very early in our relationship but I assured him I would be by his side and we would get through it. He was told he would need surgery to remove the lump, his sugery was scheduled for Easter 2018. Being the gentleman he is, he took me away for a surprise night in London before the sugery as a thank-you. On the morning we were due to travel back and the day before surgery Sam recieved a phonecall to say after looking at the last scan that the tumor was too big and had grown to the size of a small lemon. With the rapid rate of growth they could no longer operate. We were asked to make our way to Southampton hospital as soon as we could. We arrived and were told the devasting news that Sam would need to undergo 5 cycles of high intensity chemotherapy including stem cell transplants to try and get this disease under control. Despite the relapsing sams body reacts very well to chemotherapy and has worked to reduce the tumours previously. This was the best course of justice for the disease Sams particular case and the doctors were confident.
This started within 2 weeks of the news. Sam was fortunate he could harvest his own stem cells for the treatment, whereas many would require a donor.
 I hate saying that this was the hardest time of my life because I was the person standing on the side just looking in. Sam was in hospital from April to July spending most of the time in isolation receiving high intensity chemotherapy, this was such a hard time for Sam both physically and mentally. The treatment finished at the end of July and then we were told the tumour had shrunk not disappeared and he would need sugery at the beginning of August. With the huge success of the chemotherapy the remaining tissue removed from the lower right lung only showed dead cancer cells. Sam was in recovery from August to October, going back to work early in true Sam fashion. Thankfully over a year of regular appointments, scans and X-rays Sam is still in remission and the biggest fighter I know!

Please donate whatever you can, every penny counts!!