My Story
My story, so far In early June I developed paralysis on the left side of my face, leading doctors to believe I had Bell’s Palsy. However, a month later a lump had formed in my neck. Many hospital trips (including spending 12 hours up there on Tom’s birthday, without him) steroids and antibiotics for tonsillitis and a blocked salivary gland later, doctors were still unsure of a proper diagnosis. With tests run, including an X-Ray, CT scan, biopsy, and lastly a PET Scan, a few weeks after my 29th birthday I was sadly diagnosed with stage 4 cancer starting in the parotid gland, which has metastasised to a few other areas. I took longer to diagnosis because the doctors told me I’d represented a little backwards. The lump usually develops first, affecting the facial nerves causing the paralysis, however I showed the facial paralysis first. Trust me to be awkward! I’m undergoing chemotherapy, with 2 treatments already under my belt and a few more sessions to go. I’ve always adored having my long hair but it is now starting to come out, so I took the decision to cut it short and this week I plan to brave the shave. They say 1 in 2 of us will get cancer but you never believe it will happen to you so with what I’ve learnt, and all I’m going through, it’s times to give back! Cancer Research are wanting as many people to walk 100 miles throughout October to raise donations to keep funding their ongoing hard work & research. This is something I’m wanting to push myself to do all whilst still undergoing treatment. Any miles I fall behind, as the chemotherapy can take its toll on me, Tom my fiancé, Mum and a couple of friends have said they’d help pick them up. Your donation and support would be so greatly appreciated and help with all the hard work at Cancer Research I’m pushing and fighting this terrible disease as bloody hard as I can with the continuous help, outpouring of love and support from family & friends and I’m now ready to make that circle wider. Thank you 💙
