"The staff were my heroes"

In January 2014 I was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin Follicular Lymphoma, 

6 years ago, almost to the day. It was, without doubt, the most terrifying time of my life. My cousin in Canada had been diagnosed with exactly the same, just 2 months earlier, which is why, when I discovered lumps around my left clavicle, just before that Christmas, I suddenly knew what my symptoms over the previous 2 years had meant.

We agonized over Christmas, waiting for answers. The surgeon who had removed my lymph node for diagnosis, very kindly and empathetically rang me one evening with the result, as I had implored him to do, which reduced the waiting at least. 

At every stage of treatment, through bone marrow biopsy, 6 months of chemo, a couple of infections, and 2 years of follow up Rituximab support, the staff at the Churchill, without exception, were my heroes. Nothing was too much trouble, and I felt supported and informed all the way, and was never made to feel my questions were stupid.

The chemo nurses on the haematology ward are so lovely, and empathetic - just special, caring people, who seemed to know my name, and remember things about me, making it feel like a gentle, comfortable oasis, in the harsh desert my life temporarily became.

Since I was thankfully declared in complete remission, I have had regular check ups at the hospital, having now progressed to 6 monthly telephone appointments. I had been very worried about being 'cast adrift' once remission was achieved, but this has not happened, and I still feel I could contact the team, via the specialist nurses, if I ever become concerned again.

I even visited Maggie's drop in centre, several years after remission was declared, for a few sessions of counselling, to just help put a few ghosts to rest. I was welcomed and cared for so generously, by kind, understanding people who I cannot praise highly enough.

I still dread the return of the condition, but feel much more secure now, knowing this wonderful team would have my back.