Olivia Mason

The Royal Marsden Saved My Life - Help It To Save Others

19 years, 1 month and 27 days: this was how old I was on the 24th January 2018, the day that turned my life upside down when I was diagnosed with Stage IVA Classical Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin Lymphoma. The journey that followed was one of the most challenging experiences that my family or I have ever faced, but thanks to the phenomenal care and dedication of the team at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, I am still here today to share my story.

I remember the first time that I walked into the Oak Centre Outpatients Ward, where children and teenagers were given their treatment, on the 8th March 2018. Nervous doesn’t even begin to cover the feeling of entering an unfamiliar environment to receive the notorious medicine that is ‘chemo’, but I was instantly reassured and put at ease by Noreen and the nurses in the unit, and this compassionate approach towards both me and my family endured until the very last day of my treatment and beyond. Whether it was India stroking my bald head any chance that she got, to watching the staff play with the young children receiving treatment, to the nurses eating ice cream with us on the ward whilst I received my treatment, the doctors, nurses and staff treated me and the other patients in the Oak Centre like family, and their kindness, good humour and unbelievable strength inspired me to keep fighting, even when it seemed impossible to continue. 

When I was diagnosed in January, my cancer was advanced and had spread all over my body, and if it weren’t for the expertise and actions of the staff at The Royal Marsden, I would no longer be alive. Not only did they provide me with the chemotherapy regime which saved my life, but they also administered treatments to preserve my fertility in the future and ensure that I can have a family of my own when I am ready. The Marsden not only protected my present, but also my future.

It cannot be overstated how traumatic cancer treatment can be on not only your body, but also your mind. Not only did the staff support my physical wellbeing, but through their empathetic and warm approach, they also nurtured my mental health, as well as that of my parents and my younger brother, Tom, who was only 17 at the time of my diagnosis. Towards the end of my treatment, I was struggling to come to terms with what I had gone through, and I sought help from the psychiatry services at The Royal Marsden, who were well-equipped to support people with the startling transition into and out of cancer treatment. 

On the 13th September 2018, after 12 rounds of chemotherapy, 6 Zoladex fertility injections and a final PET scan, I was told that I had officially entered remission. Even at the age of 26 today, 6 years later, I become emotional when I think about that day, and the implications that it would have on me for the rest of my life.

Now that I have been in remission for over 6 years, I feel that it is my duty to give back to the hospital without which I would not be here. Since 2021, I have been working in my dream job as a secondary school English teacher, and I am proud to tell my students about my story as a cancer survivor. Not only raising money, but also awareness, about experiences with cancer and treatment is crucial to ensure that those who are met with the words “You  have cancer” receive the phenomenal support and care that I was so fortunate to have access to.

Therefore, I will be walking The Banham Marsden March with my dad, Felix, to raise awareness and money for this incredible institution. The March consists of a 15-mile walk from The Royal Marsden in Chelsea to The Royal Marsden in Sutton, where I received my treatment. Dad undertook the same challenge in 2019, less than one year after I finished treatment, and now it is my turn to join him.

Your support can help ensure that more people receive the same life-saving care I did. Every contribution, no matter how small, goes directly toward research, treatment, and patient support programmes that make a real difference in the lives of those battling cancer. My fundraising goal is £699, which equates to £3 for every day that I had an active cancer diagnosis and received treatment from The Royal Marsden.

The Royal Marsden supported me every step of the way, and even when I return for the occasional check-up or visit, I always visit the ward where I received my treatment. Even on my most recent visit, over 5 years after my treatment, India remembered me and stroked my head, now covered with a healthy head of hair. Together, we can help The Royal Marsden continue their mission of healing, hope, and innovation. Join me in giving back to this extraordinary institution that gave me a second chance at life.

Thank you for your generosity and support :)

Olivia