It all began with a lump, something small on the inside of my thigh that I could never dream of becoming cancer.

In May 2023 I went to the GP because I was concerned with a growing lump on the inside of my leg. I was only 18, about to sit my A levels and was convinced it wouldn’t be anything serious, but I went just in case.

Fast forward to December of the same year and I had finished my A levels, struggled through the start of university and went through ultrasounds and MRIs which all came back inconclusive. Finally, I had a biopsy and during my winter break on the 21st of December, I was officially diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. Following that bad luck my car was also destroyed on Christmas Day. This remains, to this day, the worst week of my life.

I was studying music at the time of my diagnosis. I played classical violin alongside piano, and I had performed with the Antrim Youth Orchestra and the Ulster Youth Orchestra, playing across Europe and Ireland. Practicing music takes a lot more energy than most people realise and eight-hour practice days weren’t unusual in university. Unfortunately, cancer took that away from me.

Following my diagnosis, I had to swiftly move out and drop out of university. I didn’t have a good relationship with my parents and don’t have any siblings, so I was put into a charity house close to the hospital where I was to receive treatment. Thankfully I had a great network of friends who supported me as I went through what I can only describe as a type of hell. I began treatment in mid-January 2024, right after my 19th birthday and I was soon greeted by Lucy, a Youth Support Worker with Cancer Fund for Children. As someone who was going through one of the worst times in my life at the age of 19, without much adult support, I am eternally grateful to her for what she did for me.

She helped alleviate the boredom while I was in hospital, giving me someone to talk to, playing games and even taking me to Starbucks when I wasn’t getting treatment. To the average person it may not seem like much but to me it meant the world.

The chemotherapy and radiotherapy caused my immune system to be near non-existent so going out with friends my age was near impossible. I didn’t have a relationship with my family and a lot of my friends had gone to university overseas, so I ended up feeling more alone than I ever had before. I can only describe it as feeling like a COVID lockdown. But during COVID the whole world stopped and during this time, I was the only one not moving. That’s why Lucy’s support was so important.

To anyone that is going through anything that is even remotely like my experience, music was one way I filled my time during treatment. While I no longer had the energy nor concentration to perform or practice, I could still listen. The song Medicine by Daughter was something that resonated with me personally. I believe that music has a unique sway over the mind and for me this song helped me get through some of the worst times of my life. If this song doesn’t work for you, try to find something else you can listen to. It can help so much more than you realise. I want to thank Cancer Fund for Children and all the staff in the NHS for helping me survive through the harrowing journey of cancer. Cancer, especially childhood and young adult cancer, is one the worst and most unexpected diseases someone can go through. Here are a few wise words I learnt from someone during my journey: You are stronger than you think you are.