A BOURNEMOUTH woman who had cancer treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic is urge the Government to ensure all young people have a ‘Hand2Hold’ during their therapy.

Young people with cancer, like Eleanor Wood, are having to attend cancer treatment and appointments alone due to the coronavirus pandemic, two leading cancer charities have found.

The 22-year-old was told she had cancer over the phone and had six months of chemotherapy alone.

Eleanor, who had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, said: “It was just so out of the blue. I’d slept funny and I woke up and my neck felt really strained, I was massaging my neck and I came across this massive lump, that was the only symptom I had.

“I had blood tests and they all came back fine but luckily my doctor was quite persistent. He referred me to the Ear, Nose and Throat department at the hospital, so I had an ultrasound and a biopsy, and it came back the next week with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“It was really bizarre, the only times I was actually seeing a doctor was my blood test and then my biopsy. The worst thing about it was that I had a false sense of security from my blood tests and so it didn’t seem like a big deal that I didn’t have a face-to-face consultation booked to find out the results, little did I know that it was in fact a huge deal.”

She went on to receive chemotherapy treatment once every two weeks and attended regular hospital appointments alone, without her parents.

“Going through cancer feels so lonely as it is but having that extra hurdle of my family not being allowed to stay by my side throughout was isolating for all of us, it made it hard for us to properly process what was going on.

“I can’t imagine how hard it was for them to drop me off in a seemingly good state and then have to pick me up and help me hobble home in a horrible drowsy and sick state.

“They felt very out of loop because I would come home from a night stay in hospital and sum up what happened in just one sentence. You’re drained, and the last thing you want to do is relive it all.” 

After receiving her diagnosis over the phone, Eleanor also received the news that she was in remission over the phone, alone, as well.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, she hasn’t been able to celebrate the fact that she is cancer-free with her family and friends.

Eleanor Wood is sharing her story as part of Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent’s ‘Hand2Hold’ campaign.

The campaign aims to ensure that young people, wherever safe and possible, have a parent or other family member, friend or partner with them during appointments, scans and treatment.

Dr Louise Soanes, Chief Nurse at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We understand that the coronavirus pandemic means we need to take extra precautions to protect those who are most vulnerable, but know that in some places, having that important hand to hold is allowed whereas in others, it is not.

“Having cancer treatment, receiving a diagnosis or learning or hearing how you’re responding to treatment, can be for many a scary and isolating experience. Young people then need to share often very complex information - some of which they might be still processing - with family members, friends or a partner.

“That’s why, together with CLIC Sargent, we want to dispel the disparity so all young people, where safe and possible, have that crucial loved one with them and a hand to hold, particularly during some of the most difficult times of their life.”

The charities have asked the Cancer Ministers in all four nations, via an open letter, to make a commitment that where possible, young people can have a hand to hold throughout their treatment and afterwards.

Helen Gravestock, Associate Director of Policy, Influencing and Voice at CLIC Sargent, added: “Young people have been telling us that one of the worst things about having cancer during the pandemic is having to go into hospital alone - sometimes to hear bad news.

“Our social workers have been on the phone to worried parents as they sit in hospital car parks waiting for their son or daughter to come out. You don't stop worrying about your child just because they're adults.

“That’s why CLIC Sargent and Teenage Cancer Trust are working together to raise awareness of the experiences that these young people with cancer, like Eleanor, are facing and asking the public to show their support by signing our pledge.”

Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent are asking for members of the public to help make sure no other young person faces cancer alone like Eleanor did, by pledging their support for the campaign at https://www.clicsargent.org.uk/join-our-fight/get-campaigning/hand-2-hold/.