PAIGE, 19, FACING 6 MONTHS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AFTER CANCER DIAGNOSIS:
Teen facing six months of chemotherapy
TEENAGER Paige Heeland has been struck down with stage four cancer after discovering a lump in her neck.
The 19-year-old, from Tunstall, noticed the ‘little’ lump before lockdown and thought nothing of it.
But it continued to grow to the size of a 10p coin and, after visiting her GP, Paige was sent for a biopsy. She received the news that she has stage four Hodgkin lymphoma last month.
Although Paige has been told the cancer is treatable, she must now endure six months of chemotherapy.
The nursery worker said: “I was just messing with my neck one day and asked my boyfriend if he could feel the lump on my neck. We didn’t know what it was.
“I thought if it got bigger I would go to the doctors and get it seen to.
“I had some blood tests and scans and I had a biopsy on my neck. I got a call asking me to go to the cancer centre at the Royal Stoke University Hospital so me and my mum went.
“They said it was Hodgkin lymphoma cancer. I was upset, devastated and shocked because I never thought it would be cancer.
“It’s just sinking in that I have cancer. It was also heartbreaking for my mum.”
Paige is nervous about the treatment but is trying to stay positive.
She said: “I didn’t think I had any symptoms other than the lump, but during lockdown I had really itchy skin.
“After my diagnosis I was given a leaflet on Hodgkin lymphoma and it says itchy skin is a symptom of the cancer.
“I now need to have six months of chemotherapy. It’s a bit scary because I don’t know what to expect, but it’s going to get me better.
“They have said I can have a cap that will save 80 per cent of my hair.
“I think it will be quite uncomfortable but I don’t want my hair to fall out.
“I’m just taking each day as it comes, just trying to stay positive.
“I’ve got lots of people around me, my boyfriend Darryl Millward is very supportive.
“He found out his nan has cancer two weeks before me. It has hit him really hard and he’s going through it as well. But he’s strong and keeping positive.”
Paige has been forced to give up work due to her diagnosis, and friend Stef Campbell organised a raffle to raise money to support her.
“I’m so thankful to Stef,” Paige said. “The raffle was a real surprise and I’m very grateful. It’s very supportive of everyone.”
More than 40 prizes were donated for the raffle, including a one-week stay in Turkey, a £100 tattoo voucher, and a £500 nail course. It has raised a total of £2,500.
Stef, aged 33, from Milton, said: “I set the raffle up because I’ve already lost all of my grandparents to cancer, and Paige is so young.
“She can’t work so she’ll have no income, which I want to help with, and also donate some money to cancer research.
“So many people have been so supportive of her. Paige is such a nice person, nobody has anything bad to say about her, she’s amazing.
“I just want her to get better because she’s such a nice girl.”