Marnie Wills was two months into her dream nursing diploma earlier than her world was turned the other way up.
The ‘match and wholesome’ scholar, from Melbourne, was simply 19 when she was identified with stage-three cancer in April 2020.
Now 21, Marnie advised FEMAIL she had been a dancer her entire life, skilled 3 times every week and felt the healthiest she had ever been.
‘I had itchy pores and skin for years with no signal of a rash and noticed totally different pores and skin specialists who all thought it was dermatitis. Six to eight months previous to the analysis, I had been experiencing evening sweats however didn’t suppose something of it,’ Marnie stated.
Little did she know the 2 ‘obscure’ signs had been indicators of tumours rising unnoticed in her chest and stomach. They had been later discovered to be nodular sclerosing Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NSHL), the most typical sort of the illness.
At college she required a blood check earlier than a placement, which fortunately led to the analysis.
‘Docs stated if I didn’t have a blood check once I did, there would’ve been an opportunity that inside 12 months I’d be gone,’ she stated.
Marnie Wills was identified with stage-three nodular sclerosing Hodgkin’s lymphoma in April 2020. On the time, she was 19 and had simply began college (pictured earlier than her analysis)
At college she required a blood check earlier than a placement, which serendipitously led to the analysis. ‘Docs stated if I didn’t have a blood check once I did, there would’ve been an opportunity that inside 12 months I’d be gone,’ she stated
Two days after having the blood check, the GP known as Marnie to say the outcomes had been ‘uncommon’ and she or he was despatched to the emergency division.
‘They thought I used to be having a coronary heart assault primarily based off the outcomes. Then they did a chest X-ray and a coronary heart scan, and I lit up like a Christmas tree.’
The scans detected small tumours throughout Marnie’s physique, notably in her chest and stomach. At that time, medical doctors weren’t certain if any had been cancerous or not, so she was despatched to a surgeon for a biopsy on the Olivia Newton-John Most cancers Centre.
The outcomes later confirmed she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
‘It was simply luck that I used to be identified as a result of we by no means actually thought something of my signs. I ought to’ve gone to the physician sooner however being so younger I by no means thought it will be something severe,’ she stated.
The tumours rising in Marnie’s chest and stomach are seen on this X-ray
As a result of it was a recognized sort of the illness, medical doctors reassured Marnie it was treatable.
Nonetheless, being stage three, the most cancers was severe and if left any longer it presumably would have grown elsewhere within the physique.
Surprisingly, regardless of the place the tumours had been, Marnie didn’t expertise any ache.
She additionally has no household historical past of most cancers and says her case was only a matter of ‘unhealthy luck’ because the trigger is unknown.
‘I had completed college and simply began uni then all of it went downhill fairly quick. I hadn’t heard of the kind of most cancers earlier than both,’ Marnie stated.
‘As quickly as I heard the phrase “most cancers” my mind switched off. Every part went in a single ear and out the opposite. I went right into a frozen-like state. I didn’t know find out how to really feel or what to suppose.’
‘It was simply luck that I used to be identified as a result of we by no means actually thought something of my signs. I ought to’ve gone to the physician sooner, however being so younger I by no means thought it will be something severe,’ stated Marnie (pictured together with her fiancé Bailey earlier than her analysis)
In a swift turnaround, Marnie began remedy inside three days and had her first spherical of chemotherapy on a Thursday.
‘I used to be undoubtedly the youngest individual within the chemo ward. Everybody else regarded over 65. It was so unusual being there and I by no means noticed one other younger individual are available in,’ she stated.
She required remedy for 9 months and in the course of the course of she misplaced her hair, obtained shingles from an an infection, had mouth ulcers that grew to become so unhealthy she couldn’t drink water. She additionally felt nauseous on a regular basis.
Surgeons couldn’t bodily take away the massive tumour in her chest as a result of it was too shut in proximity to her coronary heart and lungs.
Fortunately, the remedy labored exceptionally properly at lowering the tumours, and now she solely has one remaining.
After she acquired the life-changing information, she first deferred from her nursing diploma then dropped out.
Right this moment, Marnie works in administration and doesn’t plan to return to her research as a result of she doesn’t wish to work in a hospital.
In a swift turnaround, she began her first spherical of chemotherapy three days after being identified on the Olivia Newton-John Most cancers Centre. Upon reflection, Marnie stated the toughest side of the entire expertise was watching her pals go on with their lives whereas she remained in hospital for months
She has now been in remission for 2 years, however has annual check-ups to make sure the most cancers hasn’t returned (pictured lately)
Marnie stated the toughest side of the entire expertise was watching her pals go on with their lives whereas she remained in hospital for months.
‘Scrolling by means of social media and seeing others dwelling regular lives… I assume you simply need to attempt onerous to not evaluate,’ she stated.
‘It was onerous seeing how a lot it was impacting my household, too. I’m very shut with my fast household. It was Covid occasions, so I wasn’t allowed any guests within the hospital and couldn’t carry anybody alongside.’
From this she discovered an unknown inside power she didn’t know she had, and made it by means of the terrifying ordeal with a optimistic mindset.
‘All of it occurred so quick that it didn’t truly sink in till after I completed remedy,’ she stated, including: ‘I believe I went into fight-or-flight mode and did what I needed to do. Plus, I needed to be sturdy for everybody else.
‘With each remedy I assumed I’m one step nearer to the end line.’
Now she has a newfound appreciation for all times and doesn’t take something without any consideration. She additionally has annual check-ups to make sure the most cancers doesn’t return.
For extra info on Hodgkin’s lymphoma and different forms of blood most cancers, please go to Lymphoma Australia or the Australian Cancer Council.
