Faye's story

I suppose you could say I was kind of 'lucky'. At the end of 2001 I was involved in a car accident, injuring my back. After months of physiotherapy, I was still getting some pain but continued to study for my degree in Contemporary Arts at Manchester Metropolitan University. I'd put up with the pain for a year before I finally decided to go and see my GP to see if he could suggest anything.

It was decided I should go and have an X-ray on my back which showed I had some calcification on or above my left kidney and over the next 5 months I had tests and scans to try and determine what was there. Eventually i was referred to a surgeon who thought whatever it was should be removed. At this point I was 3 weeks from finishing my course so pleaded with the surgeon to delay the operation but he refused. I was very poorly and spent several days in the HDU. I was so confused; I had tubes coming from everywhere and had just about been cut in half! I just couldn't understand why all this had happened because of a 'blood clot'.

I spent nearly three weeks in hospital, on a general ward and by the end of my stay I was going crazy! The worse thing about being at this hospital was that my family and friends lived nearly 2 hours away and the visiting hours were so short it was difficult for them to see me. There wasn't any television or phone by my bed and all the other patients on my ward were many years older. One elderly patient had psychological problems and another lady was nearing the end of her life in a lot of pain. I was left feeling so isolated, alone and scared.

Two weeks after the operation I was finally given the diagnosis, it wasn't a blood clot but adrenal cancer. To say I was shocked is a total understatement. I couldn't believe the person they were talking about was ME! Other than my back pain from the car accident I hadn't really had any symptoms. I didn't really take in what I was being told from that moment and I was more worried how my parents would take the news. I could see them crumble before my eyes and knew I had to be strong. Going back to my bed on the ward after that consultation was horrible. The atmosphere had totally changed. The nurses didn't know how to speak to me, some even avoided eye contact.

The following day a specialist from the Christie Hospital, in Manchester came to see me. My prognosis didn't look too good but by now I had made my mind up that I wasn't going to let this diagnosis stop me doing what I wanted to do. I continued to work for my degree from my hospital bed, persuaded the doctors to let me go on holiday and started the slow process of getting back my fitness. Looking back now if I'm honest I often pushed myself too hard to prove that I was fine, I didn't want people to look at me differently, I just wanted to feel like 'Faye' again.

After further scans and tests I met my doctor from Young Oncology Unit (YOU), funded by Teenage Cancer Trust. He was the first person who was honest yet positive about my situation. Luckily the scans showed there was no further spread of the disease and so he wanted to hold back on any other treatment.

Now that I had a better idea of how my medical situation was going, I really felt I needed to speak to other young people who had been in a similar situation. I contacted the Activity Co-ordinator on the YOU and asked if she could help. She suggested I came alone to one of the YOU's social groups, which met once a month. It was just the tonic! For the first time I was able to feel normal again. Although it was the first time I had met the other patients, because we had a common ground, it felt like I had known them for years and while some aspects of your diagnosis/treatment you wouldn't dream of discussing with your family and friends, between us we could joke and laugh about them, which made such a change.

The nurses and other medical staff are simply brilliant. They are so in tune with teens and young adults, they help you feel relaxed and at home. A lot of effort has been taken to make not only patients, but also relatives and friends feel as comfortable as possible. Open visiting, a chill out room, a sensory room, TVs by the beds and DVDs and computer games to borrow are to name but a few of the important special extras available. I believe it is so important to try to lead as normal life as possible and remain as independent as your situation permits. I have now been in the clear for 4 years and having finished my degree, teach dance at a private school in Derbyshire. I continue to do a lot of work with the Teenage Cancer Trust and often speak at Teenage Cancer Trust , medical and NHS conferences.

I'm so grateful to this charity, it was my lifeline when I most needed it and that's why I try to help raise funds and awareness whenever I can.