What were you doing, or what do you imagine you will be doing at 17?
• Having more freedom from parents…
• Looking forward to going to Uni or starting work…
• Going out with friends…
• Stressing about appearance…
• Fitting in and feeling comfortable with your friends…
• Learning to drive…
• Falling in love…

Laura, New Year's Eve 1995. Just days after a major operation.

 
For a cancer patient, things are very different.
• Chemotherapy damages the immune system so infections can become frequent which makes it hard to plan anything to cheer yourself up.
• Chemo treatment often makes your hair fall out.
• Steroid treatment sometimes makes your face puffy.
• Friends may become uncomfortable and shy away, not knowing what to say, leaving you feel very isolated.
• Everything has to be put on hold, plans for the future suddenly become uncertain.
• Whilst you are out and about , enjoying life, the young cancer patient is fighting just to hold on to theirs.