How this woman's cancer journey helped shape her career

Zoe Coleman, 24, of Surrey, was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer when she was just 14-years-old.

First showing signs that something was wrong in December 2011, Zoe recalls finding a lump on her neck.

She said: “Overnight I discovered this lump and mentioned it to my mum.

“We kept an eye on it and went to see my GP after Christmas.”

Zoe was inspired by the difference medical staff at the Royal Marsden made for the patients. (Collect/PA Real Life)

Concerned, her GP sent her for blood tests, which swiftly led to her frightening diagnosis.

She said: “I had a biopsy and from that they were able to diagnose me with stage 2A Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“After that, I was sent straight to the Royal Marsden for treatment and immediately given chemo.”

After two rounds, during which her hair fell out and she suffered with infections, doctors sent her for more scans.

She said: “Luckily, my body had a really good response to the treatment. The chemo did its job.”

“After chemotherapy, I went into remission and only had to go back to the Royal Marsden to be monitored.

“I had scans every three months for the first two years, but now they are annual."

Zoe underwent two rounds of chemotherapy to fight against the blood cancer. (Collect/PA Real Life)

Officially cancer-free, her hospital treatment not only restored her health, it also gave her a new ambition.

She said: “Treatment gave me a long time to think about what I wanted to do with my life. I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands. I was 14, which is quite a crucial age to think about what direction your life is going in.”

She added: “I decided I wanted to study medicine in the hope that I could help people who are in a situation where they need it most.

"If I hadn’t been through what I experienced as a young patient, I maybe wouldn’t have such a drive to be a doctor now.

“I enjoy talking to and being around people and science is really interesting, as well as being something I’ve always naturally been good at.

“But spending the time at The Royal Marsden and seeing the doctors and nurses there, how they were all working so hard for each patient, really brought it all together for me.”

Zoe was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at 14 years old. (Collect/PA Real Life)

She added: “Getting to know the nurses while I was in hospital was a turning point for me.

“Seeing the work they were doing to make people better was so inspiring.”

Speaking about her studies, Zoe said: “When I finished my treatment and while I was doing my A levels, I went to see my consultant for a follow up appointment.

"We talked about my future plans and I mentioned that I was thinking of studying medicine at university.

“She was really excited to hear this and put me in touch with her colleague, Professor Cunningham, who is the director of clinical research at The Royal Marsden.”

As a result, Zoe returned to the hospital where she had been treated three years earlier to shadow junior doctors on ward rounds, in clinics and in meetings.

She said: “It was interesting to be on the other side and to see what the doctors were doing and how it all worked.

"It kind of solidified my career plan for me and my experience at The Royal Marsden was definitely a catalyst for this.”

In June, Zoe and her mum, Nikki, 52, a careers advisor and dad, Michael, 55, an engineer, celebrated her graduation.

Then, last month, she moved to Liverpool to begin her career as a junior doctor at Aintree University Hospital, Merseyside.

She said: “The last year of studying has been crazy due to the pandemic.

“I started my new job a week ago and I’m really excited about the future.

“Next year I will have been cancer free for 10 years. It feels really amazing, like the next huge milestone. I feel really lucky, to be honest.”

Since being treated at the Royal Marsden, Zoe and her family have supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity as a way of giving back and are currently supporting its Oak Cancer Centre appeal.

Due to open in 2022, the Oak Cancer Centre will be a new state-of-the-art research and treatment facility in Sutton and will bring together over 400 researchers under the same roof.

For more information visit here.