- By Paul O’Hare
- BBC Scotland Information
Molly Cuddihy realised how unwell she was when the radiographer began crying throughout her scan.
Later that day a guide advised the then 15-year-old that she had a uncommon type of bone most cancers.
Time was essential and he or she needed to begin chemotherapy on the Royal Hospital for Youngsters in Glasgow the next week.
Molly, who was making ready for her Nationwide 5 exams, had mapped out her life and deliberate to review drugs.
She mentioned: “That was all taken away from me in lower than a minute. Every thing falls away.
“There are such a lot of elements of your life that it reaches into and impacts.
“It’s so way more than only a most cancers analysis.”
The maths pupil, who now has no lively cells, is one in every of eight ladies who share their tales in a candid new podcast.
Radio Remedy is aimed toward younger individuals and covers themes together with psychological well being, physique picture and mortality.
The six-part sequence, produced by Glasgow-based Go Radio, has proved cathartic for the contributors and illuminating for his or her family members.
Molly, 21, advised BBC Scotland Information: “There’s issues that I’ve mentioned on the podcast that they’ve by no means heard me say earlier than they usually have lived it with me.
“It’s nearly like letting individuals in on a secret.”
Picture supply, Molly Cuddihy
The scholar, from Gourock, Inverclyde, felt one thing was incorrect for about six months earlier than she was lastly identified with metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma on 16 January 2018.
That day, the radiographer chatted and obtained to know her beforehand in a bid to calm her nerves.
However what occurred subsequent took them each unexpectedly.
Molly mentioned: “The girl who was doing my scan began crying.
“If that was not a tell-tale signal then I do not know what was.”
{The teenager} was transferred to A&E the place she was given one other scan after which admitted to the hospital’s Schiehallion ward, which cares for kids and younger individuals with blood-borne ailments and cancers.
Molly mentioned: “All my guide mentioned to me was ‘we’re treating to remedy it’ and that is all I wanted to know.”
Psychological well being is among the fundamental themes of the podcast and Molly speaks with exceptional honesty about her personal experiences.
She mentioned: “I used to be going by means of it for 2 years and I used to be fantastic after which I had a stem cell transplant in 2020 and I completely broke down.
“I actually could not address it any extra and I struggled for a protracted, very long time.”
Molly mentioned admitting she wanted assist was the “hardest half” and he or she wished extra assist was accessible six years in the past.
She added: “The podcast lets individuals hear that they aren’t on their very own, that that is how another person skilled it, with out truly having to depart the consolation of their room.
“They’ll entry all of it on their telephone in hospital.”
Molly in contrast the expertise of many most cancers survivors to troopers getting back from a warfare zone.
She added: “You do not simply anticipate them to be okay when it is all completed and they’re residence.”
The scholar admitted she nonetheless has hassle sleeping and sometimes will get flashbacks to instances when she wasn’t sedated.
Molly mentioned: “There was a whole lot of issues that I used to be awake for that I am continuously remembering. That is exhausting to deal with.
“I feel I’ve come to phrases with the truth that I had it and, to be fairly blunt, I nearly died from it.
“It’s extra that I’m scuffling with all the pieces I’ve been left with.”
Whereas present process chemotherapy Molly additionally skilled “scary” shivers that have been linked to a hospital-acquired an infection.
Though she has accomplished her most cancers remedy, she has been left with irreparable liver injury and desires a kidney transplant.
Julie Cain, Teenage Most cancers Belief nationwide lead nurse for Scotland, got here up with the thought for the podcast.
She mentioned: “We neglect how surprising it’s to listen to younger individuals speaking so brazenly about being given a most cancers analysis and having to ask ‘am I going to die?’
“For me what shone by means of is that it’s utterly unscripted and utterly genuine.
“It’s a group of younger individuals having a chat and saying ‘me too’.”
The ladies mirror on dwelling with disabilities, fears they could by no means maintain down a job and “scanxiety” round check-ups.
Molly mentioned: “Residing and surviving are two various things. Loads of us are usually not actually dwelling.”
‘Physique neutrality modified my perspective’
Mairi MacLean, 24, additionally options on the brand new Radio Remedy podcast.
She was first identified on the age of eight and is at present receiving her seventh remedy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
For years Mairi struggled with the “tiresome and defeating” physique positivity that stuffed her social media feeds.
However the idea of “physique neutrality” modified her perspective.
She defined: “To be at peace along with your physique, not consuming power in loving or hating it.
“It’s a vessel that’s making an attempt exhausting to outlive every day, whether or not you have got an sickness or not, and that’s really exceptional.
“My physique will fluctuate and alter time and again however I’m at peace with that as a result of I love the energy and perseverance of it.”
The podcast additionally offers with the side-effects of gruelling remedy, together with hair loss and dramatic weight adjustments.
It was funded by Each Thank You Counts, a charity arrange by Molly and her buddy, Sara Millar, in 2019.
Since then, it has raised greater than £300,000 for a brand new pre-teen frequent room within the Schiehallion ward and ongoing enhancements, similar to new loungers.
Every episode options three ladies speaking frankly about their experiences.
Dana Maitles reveals her father saved an in depth journal of all of the constructive issues she mentioned after she was identified with blood most cancers on her 18th birthday.
When Dana, now 20, was struggling he learn again her personal phrases in a bid to elevate her spirits.
Molly mentioned individuals usually discover it tough to speak to most cancers sufferers or say the incorrect factor.
She added: “Lots of people requested me if I used to be going to die? You do not wish to hear that. Or say ‘my gran died of most cancers’.”
One other problem is being requested extremely private questions, on points similar to fertility.
Molly mentioned: “Folks neglect you’re a particular person and also you very a lot change into the sickness, particularly if you find yourself younger.”
The podcast highlights the necessity for sufferers to “be egocentric” relating to speaking about their situation.
And Molly mentioned a easy assertion from well-wishers, similar to “I’m pondering of you” or “I’m right here”, goes a good distance.
She added: “Typically it is all you need and that’s such a comforting and wonderful message to learn.”
Molly described the information as “unhappy and horrible” however believes her phrases will assist others.
She mentioned: “You’ll be able to say to a wee woman who’s going by means of remedy ‘you might be like Princess Kate’.
“She is doing one thing very highly effective by telling her story.”
