In early March I was asked to join Stuart Leslie, the Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life organiser, on the Gloria and David Show on Radio Humberside to help promote the Race for Life in Hull on the 3rd June. I readily agreed, as I have supported Cancer Research UK and the Race for Life for a number of years. Both my parents died from cancer and I wanted to do something to prevent others suffering the way they did. Also in 2002 , at the age of 49, I was diagnosed with Low Grade Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. At the time of diagnosis I was told that my illness was incurable but treatments were available, I was heard to reply “That‘s all right then!”, my startled specialist replied “Well, not really!” It seemed OK to me as before the diagnosis I did not think I had very long to go! Shortly after diagnosis my condition deteriorated further so I underwent my first six month course of chemotherapy, unfortunately, this only gave me a remission of seven months and I had then to make a very big decision. Did I continue with regular and stronger chemotherapy treatments or go for the ‘big guns’, which would be a stem cell transplant.
When I became ill, I decided that I would go for a ‘quality not quantity’ approach to the illness and to my life. I do not like hospitals and wanted to attend them as little as necessary, to decide on the transplant went against all I believed I wanted for myself. After much soul searching I was given advice by a GP friend, that I was better having the severe treatment early whilst I was still strong enough to cope with it, so I finally made my decision.
I had the transplant in Leeds on the 5th July, 2004, after one or two ‘interesting’ moments on the way. I was in hospital for 4 weeks including 3 weeks in isolation, the care I was given was first class and I recovered well with only one or two problems during the treatment.  | | Sue Hone after completing the race |
In addition to the transplant, I agreed to take part in an International Study on the role of a drug called Rituximab or MabThera ™ given in conjunction with stem cell transplants. This is a new class of drugs called ‘monoclonal antibodies’ that are designed to recognise a protein called CD-20 which is found on the surface of the abnormal lymphocytes. Rituximab locks onto these cells enabling the patient’s own immune system to recognise the abnormal cells and kill them. How clever is that! This study is only one of the very many being funded by Cancer Research UK. Since the transplant and the Rituximab treatment I have been recovering slowly but surely and I am now able live life to the full, I am not the girl I was, but ‘hey’ who is!! The illness has changed my husbands and my life completely, we both had successful careers, living and working in Wiltshire. Since I was diagnosed with the cancer, we have moved back to Yorkshire to be near our two daughters and grandchildren and my husband took early retirement to care for me.
As Alan Bennett says “Having cancer is not a career move!“. Life is very different to what I envisaged it would be, but better for that. I take time every day to take stock and look at this wonderful world I live in. I have a fantastic family and my husband has been through this journey with me every step of the way. He swears he will one day write a book entitled ‘Hospital Waiting Rooms I Have Known!‘ I will have been in remission nearly three years by the time I take part in the Race for Life in Hull on the 3rd June. I have so much to be thankful for and so have many others. As time goes on more and more people will be as lucky as I am, further treatments and cures will be found, there is even talk of a vaccine for Hodgkins Lymphomas in the future! For the first time my specialist in Leeds said the ‘cure’ word as far as my illness goes, but he said that until I die in bed of old age, it will not be known if my treatment was a cure - here’s hoping! Last year I was one of the 6,000 who took part in the Hull Race for Life and I managed to walk and jog around the course. It was an enormously emotional day for me as I never thought I would be alive, never mind taking part in such a fantastic event and managing to get around. If you are thinking of entering the “Race” for the first time don’t be daunted, during the run you will be buoyed up by everyone around you and encouraged by family and friends cheering you on as you take part, it is a wonderful feeling. Just reading the back signs that most people wear as you wait to start is a humbling experience and makes you more determined than ever to succeed and raise funds for Cancer Research UK. This year I am trying to get fitter as I am feeling so much better, last year I took part unprepared except for absolute will power and a bottle of water! Hopefully 2007 will see me being rather more sensible. I am able to walk much more around the Wolds where I now live, so the hills are a good training ground.
Writing this article and ‘exposing’ myself in the media will make me lose some weight and exercise more, I knew some good would come of this. During the next few months I will let you know how I get on! Finally, I urge everyone to take part in some way. We are all affected by cancer, either ourselves, our family, our friends or just someone you know of. Let us contribute to making this illness history, great advances are happening all the time, so either run, walk or jog your way around the course by yourself or get your friends together and make a team. If you cannot do this, sponsor someone you know who is involved. |
