Lucy, a 23-year-old woman from Croydon in south London, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 22 years old. She had just finished her university degree in film from Norwich University of the Arts.
Non-Hogkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the network of vessels and glands spread throughout the body.
Lucy, a patient at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, found chemotherapy treatment had a considerable impact on her wellbeing. She said: “My cancer diagnosis was a bolt out of the blue. It turns out I’d had symptoms for up to 6 months. When I found out I had cancer at my age, I was really surprised.
“Chemotherapy left me out of action. I was unable to work and susceptible to infections, which put a significant strain on my physical and mental health.
“Life is very different after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Nothing is normal in terms of living; It takes time to recover. Staying positive is so important in terms of coping.
“My diagnosis had a significant impact on my loved ones, and I did my best to shield them from the more challenging conversations.”
Thankfully, the 23-year-old had the support of her mum, wider family and friends as she went from treatment to recovery.
In April 2025, Lucy received the news she had been waiting for: she was in remission. Her experience gave her time to reevaluate her priorities in life, which led her to research.
A nurse suggested that she consider volunteering to take part in the EMBody study at King's College London. The study is trialling a new digital tool to support the health and wellbeing of young cancer survivors.
Lucy explained what she is doing as part of the study. She said:
“I watched videos from other survivors and medical professionals who talked about identifying and using mindsets that are most helpful for living your life after finishing cancer treatment. The study also requires me to answer a series of questionnaires about my experience. I learned a lot about the different approaches to body positivity and other young people’s experiences of surviving cancer.
“Health and care research is important because you get the opportunity to benefit from new interventions, and also help others.”
- Lucy
Her research experience provided the opportunity to connect with other cancer survivors and offer feedback on the EMBody tool to ensure the intervention is delivered effectively and at the right time.
She believes her life has profoundly changed for the better through this experience. Lucy is an ambassador for the Look Good Feel Better UK charity, a charity that supports cancer patients with the physical effects of treatment.
Lucy’s life may never completely return to normal, but she now works 4 days a week in retail. Outside of work, she spends time with her friends and enjoys going to the cinema. She said:
“I urge others living with cancer to support health and care research. Together, we can make a real difference to improve lives now and in the future.”
The EMBody study was led by King’s College London. It was funded by the Medical Research Foundation, with support from The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
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