What cancer were you diagnosed with?

Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

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What age were you diagnosed?

22

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What has helped you to thrive?

When I was first diagnosed, I was determined to make the whole process as positive as possible, despite knowing the next year or so of my life would be completely different to what I imagined. Staying positive has been key and trying my best to get on with normal activities has really helped me. Since being in hospital I have been keeping up with yoga, making projects, making plans for myself throughout and after cancer treatment, eating well and reading a lot. Also, having lots of visitors has helped me a lot. I am currently on my sixth week of being in hospital and not being allowed to leave, so having a sense of normality and just spending time with friends and family is really lovely.

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Ella's Story

I had just graduated 4 years of university and was travelling around Colombia to celebrate when I started feeling ill half-way through the trip. I ended up seeing doctor, getting blood tests and being admitted to hospital in the space of a few days where I was subsequently diagnosed with ALL. It took me a week to be allowed to fly home where I have since been in hospital in Leeds for 3 weeks starting chemotherapy. I am coping well with the treatment however I am keen to go home and have a more balanced life than the hospital. I am currently expected to move out in 2 weeks time afternoon my first phase of treatment.