On the 28th May Jacinta and Lucia will be running the Edinburgh Marathon to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust. As you may know, back in 2006 Lu was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Here is her story…

Finding out you have cancer is absolutely terrifying. No-one expects it will happen to them. And at 15, I certainly did not think it would happen to me. Cancer was something that happened to older people, other people, not me. Or so I thought.

Its so strange how a single moment can change the world you use to know. But when they first mentioned the ‘c-word’ my life was turned upside down in an instant.

Cancer. It’s an ugly word; with a terrifying meaning. I remember so vividly when they first mentioned the ‘c-word’. All I could think about was that I was going to lose my hair. At 15, body image starts to be a big part of your life, fitting in and looking the same as other people is important for a teenage girl. So to find out within a few weeks I would likely be bald with no eyelashes or eyebrows was heartbreaking.

Furthermore, I was studying for my GCSEs. What was already destined to be a stressful year was now going to be a whole lot worse. Exams and coursework seemed trivial compared to the battle of chemo and radiotherapy. The whole prospect was completely overwhelming.

Just one day after my diagnosis I found myself on the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit in University College London Hospital starting my first cycle of chemo. The unit was amazing. I had my own room, my own wide screen TV, my own computer, my own fridge and an en suit bathroom. There was also a common room with a pool table, game consoles and board games. It didn’t feel like a ward. It was literally 5 star accommodation. I had everything I could need.

The ward distracted me from cancer. My friends and family could visit at any time, and we could hang out and play games, and I could forget that I was having chemo. Meeting other teenagers on the unit, made me realise I was not the only one going through this. There is some comfort in talking to someone else who knows exactly what you are going through.

I am now a junior doctor, and have just finished working a job on an adult oncology ward. The contrast between that ward and the Teenage Cancer Trust ward is remarkable. It highlights how lucky I was. I am so thankful to the Teenage Cancer Trust who made such a bad experience be the very best it could be.

The 18th December 2016 marked 10 years since I had finished all my chemotherapy and radiotherapy. To celebrate such a monumental occasion I wanted to do something memorable. I could think of no better way to celebrate such good health, than to run a marathon. This would prove to myself that I truly beat cancer. Running a marathon is by no means easy, the furthest I had run before I started training was 10 Km. But beating cancer wasn’t easy either. It took strength and courage to keep going, and I hope I can use to that same strength and courage to complete a marathon.

From the moment cancer came crashing into my life, Cint was always at my side. Always there to support me, always there to cheer me up when I needed it. So it was no surprise that when I told her that I wanted to run a marathon, her reaction was to sign up too so she could run along side me. We’ve been training hard for the last 3 months, and with 7 weeks to go we thought it was about time to raise some money for a charity which I will always be grateful to.


Why Teenage Cancer Trust is so important:

Without the work of Teenage Cancer Trust, young people with cancer can be treated alongside children or elderly patients, isolating them when they most need support that’s appropriate for their age group. They might be treated by cancer specialists who have no experience of working with young people, and aren’t aware of the very specific challenges that come with having cancer when you’re young.

If you decide to sponsor us here’s what your money can do:

- £25 can pay for one hour of time with a youth support co-ordinator
- £50 could pay for 2 hours with an expert nurse
- £100 could pay for a family support session
- £1000 could pay for the cost of all the care and support TCT offer to young people with cancer for an hour

We will greatly appreciate all donations however small!

Lots of love

Lucia & Jacinta