Becks - 17 years old

It has come to the point now where I constantly believe there will always be something else around the corner and every time something good happens, it won't be long before the bad comes back.

A lot of things have gone on through my life time that I could rant about all over here, however I'll just share today my mums cancer story and what we have, and are still going through.

5 years ago, my mum gave birth to my baby brother, I was 12. She spent the majority of the time very ill both during and after the pregnancy, constantly going to and from our doctors surgery, they continued for 2 years to treat her with thrush and make her feel uncomfortable, have a lowered self-esteem and disgusting.. Only for them to later decide that she had been ill for so long they should refer her.

She was referred to the Gynaecology Oncology department and had various tests done, until we eventually found out that she had all along been suffering with Cancer of the Vulva and was fighting Stage 4. Her surgeon did multiple laser operations on the outside of my mums vagina and she was constantly recovering.

I had lots of time off from school during my GCSE years to care for her, look after my brother and provide support for my younger sister who took to the news rather badly. In the end, my mum had the Lymph Nodes in her groin/ legs removed and had a big hole in her groin which when released from hospital, district nurses were to come and seaweed pack it, and make sure there was no infections at all. However in doing this my mum caught an infection which they failed to find and only by chance was she sent to see her surgeon and we later found out that if she hadn't have gone, the infection would have gone undetected and hours later she would have contracted septicaemia. She had an emergency operation done to sort out the infection and spent a number of days in hospital. As I was the eldest I had to be strong and keep the family together as much as possible during this time and believe me it was the hardest thing I have ever done.

After she had recovered we then found out that she had ended up with a disability called Lymphoedema - it just felt like there was constantly one thing after another. Today my mum still has her operations to make sure the cancer cells do not grow back and any that do are lasered away. She still receives support for Lymphoedema, struggles a lot but we get through it together.

I couldn't have got through any of this without the help of my friends, some of which were there from the beginning and are still here today. I thank so many people, and I am proud of myself for what I have achieved despite everything. I have not only experienced upset, but I have been very angry too, with the doctors, district nurses etc.

It has come to the point now where I constantly believe there will always be something else around the corner and every time something good happens, it won't be long before the bad comes back. I struggle to be happy and positive anymore, and quite frankly I just want my teenage life back, I want to start living my life.

Cancer is the worst possible thing that could be brought onto anyone's life and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Thank you for taking the time and patience to read my story, Becky.

Page updated 28 November 2014