Becky

Becky, aged 16 from Surrey finished treatment in May 2011 and came sailing with the Trust for the first time in the summer with a group from the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton.  Becky remembers, “The first sign of anything wrong was when I was 10, I was at school and one half of my face became paralysed, it’s known as Bell’s Palsy.”

Beckys Mum Su continues, “Becky’s face looked a bit droopy so I was obviously concerned. A lovely Paediatrician was recommended, who took us under his wing to try and get to the bottom of it.  He referred us for an MRI scan, after which we were told she had a Brain Tumour, which may or may not be malignant.  My first thoughts were just ‘Oh my God, she’s going to die!’ They took her in for a brain operation, the doctor told me to stop worrying, but I had no idea what to expect.”

Becky remembers, “I was actually excited to have a tumour. I was quite young and didn’t really know much about it all.  It might seem strange but I loved the fact I was going into hospital for a Brain Operation!  Six months later it had grown back and I had another operation. After that they said if the next operation didn’t work they would have to look at doing something else.  I had another operation just before I was 15, and the Royal Marsden said I had an Oligodendroglioma, a really rare tumour which they weren’t really sure how to deal with.  I had to decide if I wanted chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.  I just wanted whichever would be the most dramatic!  I started chemo and was really lucky for the first few months as I felt fine, and was still going to school.  On my third lot of chemo I really went down, I lost lots of weight, about 4 stone, and was throwing up all my food. At this point I wished I’d chosen radiotherapy instead!  I went neutropenic, had to have blood transfusions, and was in hospital for 10 days with all my doses halved coz I was so ill from it all.  They said if in 6 weeks you aren’t neutropenic and your bloods are ok we’ll go for the 6th lot of chemo, but if not we’ll leave it completely.  I wasn’t well enough but I was really happy as it meant I didn’t have to have my last course of chemo.  I’ve had two scans since and both have been clear.

At the beginning of treatment I was going to school all the time, then one day a week, then not at all, I’d just pop up at lunch sometimes to see my friends.  Most of them were lovely through my treatment, they didn’t fully understand, but asked how I was and kept in contact. I lost a few friends who weren’t there for me though, you definitely learn who your real friends are!  It really messed up my GCSE’s as well, but the teachers helped me with BTEC courses, and I’m retaking my English exam soon.  I’m not sure yet but think I want to do drama and media studies A Levels next.

When I heard about the sailing trip with the Trust I was straight up for it, it sounded exciting and I’m not the sort of person who minds if I don’t know anyone.  I had so much fun!  I thought it would be a bit more strict with a lot of ‘don’t do that because you’re ill’, but it was like time off in a way. There were loads of highlights, the RIB boats were amazing especially going right up to see the Needles.  I want to come back next year and when I’m 18 I’d love to be able to volunteer. I’ve wanted to get more involved with charities and children, doing something with people who are ill, as I can relate!”

Becky’s mum adds “She was so excited about the trip and we’d had a really hard time so I was excited for her.  When she was at the Marsden she didn’t really meet anyone else of a similar age, it was all young children, and she spent a lot of time in a room on her own, so it was good she could meet others on the trip and talk about things. She always sees the positive side in everything, and has a really odd sense of humour, she plays the ‘chemo card’ when she wants to, and even told her consultant that chemo had been quite fun, which he’d never heard before!  She still gets tired sometimes but I’m so proud of her. She’s always still the life and soul of everything and out of my five children she is the only one who could have coped so well with all this.  We’re all really grateful Becky is still with us!”