KITCHEN

It is said that today cancer effects 1 in 3 of us, in the next ten years this will change to be effecting half of the population. It is never easy to deal with someone close to us telling us that the deadly disease has cought up with them too, but it is even tougher to realize that you will be the person who will take on the fight yourself; Alexandra Turpin was 23 when she was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in her spine, a very rare form of cancer.

 

Alexandra had always been a very active and outgoing person, with no history of major illnesses or even broken bones; “It all came as a tidal wave, I mean I can not describe it in any other way. I was working for the NHS at the time and was actually dealing with people being told that they have cancer almost everyday, how ironic. It all started with small daily pains in my left arm, then one night I woke up with it being completely numb, I was rushed to the hospital and after havng a scan I was straightaway taken to the surgery room. I woke up with most of my arm being back to life, but the words that I had to hear from my doctor next, were ones that I would not wish on my worst enemy. I was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, that was found hiding in my spine.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because Alexndra was so young and the cancer was serious, she straighaway put on an intense chemothrapy course to be completed over nine months; “I fought a battle and I am still here. My friends and family were by my side the entire time. And I can also say that when you are diagnosed, life doesn't end! In fact, in a way, a new one begins, I was intrviewed by BBC breakfast news while I was undergoing the treatment and during that filming was the only time that I broke down into tears, rest of the time I was going out with my friends, trying new activities and just enjoying my life.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexandra was living in Hastings with her sister Hailey during the treatment period; “She was great, I mean you must be able to tell that just by talking to her. The whole things was a massive rollercoaster for her and for us, there were times when she would talk about death and seem so hopeless, but she would never cry, she is an extremely strong an brave person. The very interesting thing about this whole story is that me and Alexandra have a friend who lives nearby who was few years ago also diagnosed with the same type of cancer in exactly the same place of her body, a few local newspapers covered this story as it is such a rare thing to happen.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexandra, now 25, has been all clear for 6 months, she is once again working for the NHS, has started a new relationship and is looking forward to living a life looking at it through new eyes. Her 21 year old girlfriend, Abbey, met her during the first month of her recovery; “Honestly I could not tell that she was ever ill, she was so full of life. She also told me that she had baught tickets for a six month travel around America just before she was diagnosed, of course she had to cancel those, but now we are planning a new trip together, plus Alex is planning to apply to University. She is one amazing person.”