Picture caption, Maria Austin was identified with most cancers in JanuaryArticle informationAuthor, Marie-Louise ConnollyRole, Well being correspondent9 July 2024, 06:30 BSTUpdated 1 hour agoA west Belfast lady says she was fortunate to have been given time to freeze her eggs earlier than beginning chemotherapy in her struggle towards most cancers.Maria Austin, 25, who’s a classroom assistant, was identified with Hodgkin lymphoma in January.”The egg freezing was essential and so necessary as a result of I’m nonetheless younger, I wish to have a household when I’m older,” she stated. Maria stated she is telling her story to focus on the significance of early most cancers analysis and to assist different younger folks deal with signs shedescribes as “life altering”.It comes as the newest Division of Well being (DoH) statistics present fewer than a 3rd – 29.8% – of sufferers started their most cancers therapy throughout the beneficial 62 days – effectively beneath the 95% goal.What do the newest most cancers figures present?The newest figures purpose to supply an image of ready occasions for sufferers accessing most cancers companies between the primary three months of 2023.They present a dramatic drop within the variety of folks beginning therapy for breast most cancers throughout the beneficial goal.Between January and March, solely 34.1% of sufferers requiring breast most cancers therapy had been seen inside 14 days of their GP pressing referral.For a similar interval in 2023 the determine was 84.2%.The ministerial goal states that every one pressing breast most cancers referrals needs to be seen inside 14 days.The newest most cancers ready occasions reveal that not one of the targets set by the well being minister have been met.In accordance with DoH, the figures needs to be handled with warning as Embody – the brand new digital affected person report system – continues to be in improvement on the South Japanese Well being Belief which has affected the info.Sarah Christie, of Macmillan Most cancers Help stated she believed the system was on “the verge of collapsing.”“We’ve had the options by way of many stories in relation to reform from the early 2000s.“The options are there, however nothing has been carried out with them,” she addedImage caption, Sarah Christie, of Macmillan Most cancers Help’Why me?’For Maria, early diagonsis was essential to permit her to freeze her eggs.”Chemo and most cancers impacts fertility and might put you into early menopause,” she instructed BBC Information NI.”To have that wee window of two weeks to undergo fertility therapy, it was onerous, it was three needles a day, however I’m lucky I had the chance.” Maria, who underwent 4 rounds of chemotherapy, stated at first she stored asking “why me?”.She stated the fixed illness and dropping her hair was onerous.”Sooner or later my hair simply stored falling out – inside 4 weeks I had no hair left,” she stated.”That was a problem, and I’m now utilizing wigs and headscarves. I’ve tried to seek out magnificence elsewhere, so I’m engaged on my make-up.”Maria’s chemotherapy has labored. A current PET scan revealed the tumour had shrunk.Now she could have radiotherapy therapy as an alternative.Picture caption, Maria has been carrying wigs and headscarves since present process chemotherapyThe significance of early analysis is echoed by Sam Clarke, who was identified with lymphoma in 2015 and has undergone a stem cell transplant.The 51-year-old, who lives in Bangor, County Down, stated being “caught and signposted” at an early stage was critically necessary, however one thing that sadly he had not all the time seen with household and buddies.”Entry is totally different for everybody,” Sam stated. “It relies on your age, the place you might be from, however that every one must be addressed to provide everybody a fast and even platform to be seen as rapidly as doable.”It is vitally hit or miss as a result of the particular person you first must see is the GP and doubtlessly you may not see one for weeks or possibly for a month or two.”There may be additionally the referral and getting by the system as a result of everyone seems to be already working so onerous coping with different most cancers sufferers.”Picture caption, Sam Clarke was identified with lymphoma in 2015Raising awarenessImage caption, Sam Clarke, pictured a number of years agoMaria and Sam are each optimistic, humble, and intensely grateful.Whereas filming their tales there have been tears and laughter.Maria stated she had turned her analysis into one thing optimistic and that a number of folks had obtained in contact by social media.“There isn’t a number of assist on the market for younger folks with most cancers, the physique picture unintended effects together with the burden acquire and hair loss – if I will help I’ll,” she stated.”Do not let that phrase ‘most cancers’ drag you down, be optimistic and if in case you have that optimistic perspective these round you’ll be optimistic.”Do not let it the phrase ‘most cancers’ or ‘sufferer’ decide you, simply be a fighter.” Sam stated he was now half Welsh as his stem cell donor was from Wales and he referred to as on the general public to enroll to the stem cell register.”His blood and his stem cells had been grafted into me and make up my white blood cells, so my blood sort ended up altering to his – it’s outstanding what occurs however his donation has stored me alive,” he stated.”So, it’s not nearly chemo and radiotherapy additionally it is in regards to the public, opening up their minds to see what they’ll do to assist these residing with most cancers.”Picture caption, Sam and his stem cell matchWhat is lymphoma?Lymphoma is a most cancers of the lymphatic system. It develops when blood cells referred to as lymphocytes develop into irregular.Regular lymphocytes struggle an infection. They’re a part of the lymphatic system which helps shield your physique from an infection and illness.There are two fundamental kinds of lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.When somebody has Hodgkin lymphoma, HL B-lymphocytes begin to multiply in an irregular means and start to gather in sure elements of the lymphatic system such because the lymph nodes (glands). The most typical symptom is a painless swelling in a lymph node, often within the neck, armpit, or groin.Cancers identified in folks aged between 18 and 49 in Northern Eire have risen by 20% up to now 25 years.The analysis carried out by Queen’s College Belfast and the NI Most cancers Registry in contrast 2019 statistics with 1993 figures, when registry data started.Figures confirmed that by 2019, 1,076 folks aged 18-49 had been identified with some type of most cancers.