Megans blog-

http://mylifewithmarnie.wordpress.com

Taken from her blog in her own words-

So the last month or so has been the worst time of my life it all started after a lovely day out at the beach with the family and whilst we were on our way home I discovered a massive lump on my neck. I started to panic as it was a pretty big lump. I rang 111 and they told me to wait and see my doctor in the morning, after seeing my doctor she referred me to the ENT (ear nose and throat specialist) they then did a few checks and one of which was a camera up my nose and down my throat (not a pleasant Experience at all!!) she then referred me to have a scan. I had to then wait a week for my scan. Once my scan date arrived I was very nervous when the doctor was scanning my neck I knew there was something wrong as she said we need to do a biopsy and take cells from the mass in your neck. I had the biopsy under local anesthetic. Once the biopsy was done I asked the doctor if she thought it was anything serious to worry about and she said yes she thinks it is, she then explained to me it is around your Lymph nodes. I was told to wait 7 days and then I would be seen to discuss the results. Well those 7 days actually felt like a life time all the things running around in my head. I decided to make a change to my health straight away and have been on a complete health food diet with plenty of super food juices with lots of help from my amazing mum.

When the day had arrived to discuss my results I was SO scared we arrived at the hospital earlier than our appointment and we were called in straight away (never a good sign) we then went into the room and a doctor was sat waiting for me, I felt like I was going to faint I can’t really remember what he first said but all I heard was “I’m afraid to say that you have the Hodgkins lymphoma” …. “it’s cancer and you will need chemo for your treatment” I broke down it felt like my whole world around me was crashing and all I had in my head was my daughter Marnie, I NEED to be strong for her I NEED to get better for her. I was then sent off for scans on my chest. The journey home from the hospital was a blur I just went into some kind of strange daze and was hoping I would wake up soon and it all be a nightmare. I just kept thinking about how the hell am I supposed to look after a very energetic toddler whilst going through chemo, I want to be the best mum I can be to Marnie but how am I supposed to do that whilst trying to fight cancer another major concern of mine was how ugly I was going to look with out my hair. I love my long hair and now that will be taken away from me as well!

A couple of days after I was diagnosed I was booked in for a full body PET scan to work out what stage my cancer was at and to see if it had spread anywhere else in my body. I then had to go home and wait another week for my results (the waiting has been very hard for me!) After another horrendous week of waiting I was back at the hospital again to discuss my pet scan results which was not good news my cancer had spread so it was not only in the lymph nodes in my neck I also had a massive mass in my chest, it had also gone into my bone marrow and behind my liver. The doctor then confirmed you have stage 4b Hodgkin’s lymphoma and I will need 6-8 months of chemotherapy, my chemo will be every two weeks. I burst out in tears all I kept thinking was why me. I had so hoped in my head that it wouldn’t have gone to a stage 4 and then bang yet again more bad news. The reality of it all really sunk in then I was seen my one of the chemotherapy nurses and we had a long discussion. On the way out of the hospital I walked passed the chemotherapy suite and I just felt sick.

I’m going to continue to blog throughout my chemotherapy treatment as I want to share my story and help raise awareness. when I was diagnosed I was constantly searching the internet to look at other people’s experience with going through chemo and fighting cancer in a way it gave me some hope and comfort that you are not alone so I want to do the same on my page. I want to document my battle so I can also look back on it and remember that I am a stronger person then I ever thought I could be.

This photo is of me and my beautiful daughter Marnie (this photo was taken a couple of hours before I found the lump) I also found it strange how she was holding my neck exactly where the lumps were with a slightly concerned look on her face it’s as if she was trying to give me a little sign. ✨💗