Within nine days, I had an operation to remove my left
testicle, had a CT scan, and was referred to Palmerston North
for chemotherapy treatment to remove the remaining cancer cells.
Over the next two and a half months, I was in and out of Hastings
& Palmy North hospitals regularly.
In between my first and second treatments, I spent just three
nights (out of two weeks) at home, and the rest in Hastings
hospital. During this time, I lost 8kgs (and most of my hair).
Being only 65kg to begin with, I wasn't aware that I had any weight
to lose!
On my 20th birthday, I went in for my third treatment.
Thankfully, I'd been well enough to have a bunch of friends around
for lunch a couple of days earlier. On October 27, I finished my
fourth & final Palmy treatment, and headed home. Within a week,
I was down at the park playing touch. In all I had four
rounds of treatment, which had four very different reactions by my
body!
In early 2008, I went along to my first CanTeen activity, and my
involvement has steadily grown since. The best thing I have seen
within CanTeen is the respect and loyalty that all the members show
each other. I have been blessed with the opportunity to attend
different camps and other activities at a National and Divisional
level. These have been truly amazing.
Everybody's cancer journey is different, but there is so much that
we can offer each other as far as support and encouragement-
patients and siblings alike. In CanTeen, I've realised that the
lows affect members daily, but there are always others around,
doing what they can to help each other through the tough times.
What do you say to a cancer patient? I don't know- I've been one,
and have since watched friends go through it. There really
are no words, just be there for people.
Do I wish I hadn't had cancer? Nah- not at all. This may sound
strange, but it really was a blessing, and it was given to me for a
reason. Through the treatment and my experiences since, I've learnt
so much about myself, and about other people. I have been
able to have an affect on other people's lives that I couldn't have
imagined previously.
I am so grateful to be involved with CanTeen and hope that, in the
years ahead, it continues to grow and have a positive impact on
many people's lives.