2006
The worst year of my entire life.
Chemotheraphy & Radiotheraphy at 19 years old.
It was rough.
It all started with an ITCH!
Then the itch got worse....And I started to lose sleep with it
(I was itching all over my body head to toe)
I went to my GP and was given cream! Menthol cream which made me FREEZING cold when I applied it
Didnt help one bit
So it was ANOTHER trip back to the docs because by this time, I was making myself BLEED from scratching so hard.
He told me to change my washing powder, asked if I had any pets, asked if I used sunbeds often???
I was turned away again, still no further forward.
Weeks passed and it slowly got worse, I was so depressed and tired at work from the lack of sleep.
Then a lump appeared under my collar bone, it was the size of an EGG
I could barely move my head to the left as it was quite big NOT REALLY PAINFUL, just a lump?
I instantly thought, "Oh swollen gland?"
He THEN referred me to the hospital.
I saw Dr Galloway at Sunderland Royal Hospital
He was lovely
Straight to the point but nice.
He asked me 'Have you ever heard of Hodgkins Disease Dawn?'
I was like "What? Nope!"
My mams face changed.
She knew
I didnt have a clue
He didnt do anything, no tests, no blood work, nothing?
All he knew was [I was itching badly and had a lump in my neck]
But he KNEW
He was right.
He then said, "We need you in as soon as possible to do a biopsy"
'A WHAT?'
I didnt know what the hell was going on.
My mam cried in the car all the way home.
My dad was silent (numb?)
I sat in the back seat with not a care in the world.
After all I was only 18.
I was back in hospital the next day for the biopsy.
It didnt hurt, and they glued my neck closed after they took what they needed.
Next on the list was a BONE MARROW TEST
To see if it had spread to any other organs or parts of my body (bones etc)
I couldnt walk after this was done (MOST PAINFUL THING EVER)
LUCKILY that was clear
It was only in my CHEST & NECK
I needed to start Chemo asap.
My first session was booked for CHRISTMAS EVE!
I cancelled it, and made it for the 28th
This wasnt going to spoil my christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I started the chemo 28th Dec and didnt finish it until the June.
I had a 2 month break before starting Radiotheraphy at Newcastle Hospital
I lost my hair :(
I lost ALOT of weight
I looked awful.
But in Jan 2007 I got the best news in the world.
"The treatment has worked, you are now currently in what we call REMISSION"
I was OVER THE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON
Im still alive (I thought)
My hair slowly grew back
EVERYONE KEPT TELLING ME "DAWN YOU LOOK LIKE A SUPERMODEL WITH SHORT CROPPED HAIR DONT GROW IT LONG"
But I loved my long hair
I got hair extensions....
I started to feel like ME again
I had to go for 3 month checks then 6 months and now its every YEAR
But I still cant believe I have been through all that
Im bloody proud of myself
I always worry that it MIGHT come back
OR i'll relapse
BUT I HAVE TO STAY POSITIVE
For my daughters sake
Im a survivor.
Because I never gave up.
