Stevenage Football Match in support of the LA

On 6th March '10 we organised that the Stevenage vs. Crawley Town game would be held in support of the Lymphoma Association. To raise awareness a little piece was put in the programme...

'Today’s match is in support of the Lymphoma Association, Registered Charity No. 1068395, which provides information and support to anyone affected by lymphatic cancer (most common cancer in the under 30s).
HAYLEY BENHAM DIAGNOSED IN 2009

After a year of travelling, life couldn’t be better but I started to suffer with back pain which I just dismissed as getting back into the daily routine. I then developed flu-like symptoms accompanied by itchy skin and a persistent lump.
After various tests, and a lot of visits to my GP, I was told that I had lymphoma. I had never heard of it before, didn’t even know it was cancer and when you're only 23, that comes as a real shock! I found the Lymphoma Association a wealth of information and support.
My chemotherapy treatment lasted for eight months. Now just over a year since diagnosis I am enjoying getting my life back on track.
Please give generously to the charity volunteers in the stadium as every penny will be put to vital use. Thank you. http://www.lymphomas.org.uk'

It was a great day, friends, family and even the Mayor of Stevenage came down to support. We also did a bucket collection on the day and raised nearly £400 for the LA, a great amount and way above our expectations. A big thanks to everyone involved.

Good News from the Consultant.

Bit late in posting this, just wanted to update you all on my follow up appointment with the consultant in March.

The consultant was pleased to see how well I was doing. He was encouraged to see I was back at work three days a week and that my energy levels were returning to what they were before I had lymphoma. My appetite has now returned and I love my food again :). Back at the gym and training for the 10K run which I am going to do in July. I had some bloods taken, which took a while because my veins are still not play ball, but the results all came back normal.

In my follow up letter the consultant wrote:

'Hayley continues in her clinical remission'

which was nice to see in black and white.

Continuing with my photography...here are a few snaps from walking around Cambridge after my appointment.

Hope you are all well.

A Year On.

I know I haven't blogged for a while, but a year on from diagnosis I thought a blog was worthy. The last time I wrote was back in October after my follow up appointment. I am due to see the consultant again in a couple of weeks for my second follow up appointment so will let you know how it goes.

So what has been going on since October...well. I have moved out of home and into a two bedroom flat, not to far away. It is lovely to have my own place and home it still just 10 minutes or so away so I can pop in for a cuppa now and then and catch up with the family. After having a year of being very dependent it is a relief to have my independence back. Even though I am living on my own people are always around, which is nice.

I started work again on the 12th January, and received my first pay check this week :0). As I was only temping when I got diagnosed I didn't have a job to go back to as such so I have come across this temporary part time job which I am going to do for the time being. I am working for the council as a garage maintenance officer...not particularly glam or anything I would have ever thought to apply for, but after 2 weeks I actually quite like it. It is 18.5 hours a week which I am finding enough at the moment and it is about 60% in the office and 40% out and about (which makes a nice change to being cooped up all day even if it is a bit cold at the moment). I have been kitted out with a van, Hi Vis jacket and boots, haha.

So besides work and moving out, I have been catching up with friends and eating and drinking far too much! Although I have started the gym again and am even having a few personal training sessions! I had a great birthday weekend back in November and got totally spoilt. And a lovely Christmas and New Year.

I am feeling fine at the moment, a little tired maybe after starting work again, but nothing a few early nights haven't solved, no other aches and pains to report so lets just hope it continues. I kind of but lymphoma to the back of my mind for three months, but now feel ready to get involved in the lymphoma association again and have started writing on the message boards and I am finding out about becoming a buddy. Being busy getting my life on track has meant I haven't thought much about the lymphoma returning, but as ever it does sometimes creep into your mind.

Just so you are aware...we will be going the Great British Tea Break again in September and I hope to run the 10km with some friends in July to raise money for the lymphoma association, watch this space!

Thank you all for your continuing support. x

Follow Up Appointment

Well I am sorry it has been a while since my last blog, but I have been out and about again instead of stuck at home in front of the computer!

I went to see my consultant for my follow up appointment this week. First off the tan test...my doctor had told me I wasn't aloud to come back too brown from holiday, i passed! Then we discussed my general health, how I was feeling. Told him that I had felt fine since the last chemotherapy, no sniffles of anything and that I was gradually getting my energy levels back, this week has been really good I have been doing a lot more stuff.

Asked a few questions such as - should I go back to the dentist yet? YES as long as my latest blood results come back normal. Can I get my ear re-pierced? YES go for it. Can I go back to the gym, start horse riding again? YES go back to the gym...but why would you want to go horse riding (my consultant didn't actually say those words...but that was the impression I got!). Should I have the flu vaccine? YES if you are happy to do so.

The gist of it is that the lymphoma could come back at any time, at any point, as aggressive as before or not and it could manifest itself in the same way but it might not, there is just no telling. I basically have to be aware of my own body and any concerns I have I will communicate back to him and we will take it from there.

If all runs smoothly I wont see my doctor until February and then if he is happy, not for another 6 months and then if OK, yearly after that. My consultant was pretty laid back about whether he would scan me again or not, his general practice is to not scan again unless there is cause for concern because it creates unnecessary anxiety. I go along with this now, but may feel different in a years time.

Well it finally fells like a door has closed after Tuesday, it is not over but that part is done. As I have said previously but will say again and again, I really appreciate everyone who has been there, however big or small part I couldn't have done it without you and I THANK YOU.

Now for the next chapter - 'Getting my life back on track!'.

HOLIDAY

Totally relaxing. A few snaps.