Perri Rowe, a 25-year-old service delivery executive from Leeds, shares her inspiring story of resilience, self-advocacy, and hope in the face of a rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis during this important month.
This April marks the second Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity for charities and the young people they support to come together and raise awareness of the unique challenges facing this age group when diagnosed with cancer.
In August 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, Perri’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. While on holiday in Devon, she discovered a lump in her breast and had experienced significant weight loss. Perri’s self-advocacy journey began when she promptly contacted her GP, trusting her instincts that something wasn’t right. She was referred to the breast clinic at St. James Hospital in Leeds, where a biopsy was performed due to the size of the lump.
Perri underwent an intense treatment regimen, which included seven months of inpatient chemotherapy, two months of radiotherapy, and a mastectomy in December 2020. Following her initial treatment, she continued with six months of oral maintenance chemotherapy. Throughout her treatment, Perri actively participated in her care, asking questions and making informed decisions about her health.
One of the biggest challenges Perri faced was isolation and loss of control, compounded by the pandemic restrictions. Despite the physical distance, her family and friends provided unwavering support through Zoom calls, gifts, and regular check-ins. Her partner, Alex, was a constant source of strength, accompanying her to every hospital appointment.
Perri’s self-advocacy extended beyond her personal journey. She became a vocal advocate for sarcoma awareness in young people on social media, sharing her story to inspire and support others. This aligns with the focus of this year’s Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month on empowering young people to take control of their healthcare and advocate for themselves.
Perri’s advice to others facing a sarcoma diagnosis is rooted in self-advocacy. She encourages patients to be gentle with themselves, recognise that they are not alone, and actively seek help from the numerous people and charities ready to offer support. Perri emphasises the importance of going at one’s own pace, asking questions, and being an active participant in one’s care.
Her perspective on life has shifted, focusing on the bigger picture and the importance of self-awareness. Perri stresses the significance of trusting one’s instincts and seeking medical attention when something feels wrong, reminding others that no one is too young for sarcoma.
Perri’s message is one of hope and self-empowerment. She demonstrates that through self-advocacy, resilience, and the support of loved ones, life alongside and after sarcoma is possible. Her story serves as an inspiration to all, reminding us to be patient with ourselves, to actively participate in our own care, and to never lose hope. This Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, let Perri’s journey encourage us to have more conversations, learn from each other, and raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by young people with cancer.
The charities involved are Bone Cancer Research Trust, Brain Tumour Research, Cancer Research UK, Children with Cancer UK, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, Dragonfly Cancer Trust, Ella Dawson Foundation, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, It’s In The Bag, Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund, The Little Princess Trust, Lymphoma Action, Neuroblastoma UK, Project Youth Cancer, Sarcoma UK, Solving Kids Cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust, Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer (TYAC), Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, The Tom Bowdidge Foundation, Trekstock and Young Lives vs Cancer.
Search #TYACAM to follow Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month and find out how the charities are raising awareness and how you can get involved this April.
