Hannah, 25, was diagnosed with a Carcinoid Tumour in her right lung at 18 after spending over five years going back and forth to her GP. She initially started feeling really breathless at the age of 13 but her GP told her she had asthma. Over the years, her condition steadily deteriorated to the point where she was experiencing constant stabbing pains in her chest, yet doctors still told her it was just asthma. Five years later Hannah got really ill and spent four months visiting her doctor every week until he eventually gave in and sent her for a chest x-ray. The x-ray showed that her right lung had collapsed, and by the time she saw a consultant the collapsed part had died. All this time she had a large tumour growing on her lung. As a result, Hannah had to have two thirds of her lung removed.
Hannah said, "After the operation I became very isolated, all my friends had gone off to university and I was just left to recover. I became very bitter and never wanted to talk about what had happened and I also didn't want anyone to know about what happened. About 3 years afterwards I had started getting panic attacks and had big breakdown. I eventually got offered counselling which helped me out, but what really helped was when I googled 'teenage cancer help' it came up with Teenage Cancer Trust's website and I found out about their 'Find Your Sense Of Tumour' conference. My counsellor convinced me to go and by doing that I was able to talk to people my own age. From that day forward I learnt that it was okay to talk to people about what happened and not to care what people think. I'd say I've learnt a great deal from my condition and it has moulded me into the person I am today. I find I am more driven because I want to prove everyone wrong and stick two fingers up at the doctors who wouldn't listen!"
Hannah's story highlights one of the many issues teenagers and young adults face when they have cancer. Our International Charter of Rights for Young People with Cancer is an online petition that campaigns for a variety of rights for teenagers with cancer - Teenage Cancer Trust already leads the world in the treatment of young people with cancer, once we have enough signatures we hope to influence the World Health Organization. Young people like Katie have the right to receive adequate information about, and access to, fertility options and the long term impact of cancer treatment.