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Lucy's story

When Lucy was 13, she heard the words no rangatahi should ever have to hear: “You have cancer.”

In December 2015, Lucy was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Four months later, she relapsed. After finally being cancer-free for seven years, Lucy faced another relapse in October 2024, and then, in March 2025, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Over the past ten years, she’s faced cancer four times. “My journey has included surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, endless hospital visits, and the constant emotional rollercoaster of uncertainty,” she says.

She remembers that the first diagnosis was devastating to hear. “It was hard not to ask, ‘Why me?’” she remembers. “It felt like a lot to deal with at such a young age. Each relapse brought its own wave of shock, fear, and sadness - it never gets easier.”

To cope, Lucy learned to take things one step at a time. “Instead of thinking about the whole journey ahead, I focused on getting through one appointment, one treatment, or even just one day at a time.” Her family and friends were her anchor, sitting with her through long hospital visits, keeping her company on the hard days, but she wanted to find people who understood what she was going through.

She first connected with Canteen when she was diagnosed at 13 years old. “Canteen has been one of the most important things in my journey,” Lucy says. “They’ve been there through every stage, from going away to camps where I got to meet other young people who truly understood what I was going through, to events that gave me a sense of belonging and fun outside of treatment.”

When she was diagnosed again later in life, Lucy turned to Canteen for a different kind of support. “The psychosocial support from Canteen became such an important part of my journey,” Lucy explains. “Talking to my clinician gave me a safe space to express all the fears, anger, and sadness I didn’t always want to put on my family or friends. They helped me process everything and gave me tools to manage the anxiety and uncertainty that came with each diagnosis. I honestly don’t think I could have navigated my cancer experience the same way without their support.”

Lucy’s long-term connection with Canteen has been life changing. “Canteen has been there through every stage,” Lucy says. “It’s given me a place full of people who understand what it’s like to truly go through cancer. It honestly feels like a family now.”

Cancer changed Lucy’s world. Her friendships, her social life, even her sense of normality. “Having to adjust or be the ‘kid with cancer’ changes a lot when you’re going through high school,” she says. Later, while working full-time during treatment, her days became a blur of hospital visits after long shifts. “I didn’t have much time to do anything else, which was hard. I lost being able to do the things I loved and go out with my friends.”

Yet, through it all, Canteen remained a constant support, adapting to different stages of her cancer experience, and helping her hold onto a sense of normal life and emotional balance. “I think every time I hear, ‘You have cancer,’ it’s still incredibly hard,” Lucy admits. “The fear of another relapse is always in the back of my mind. But having Canteen there has made all the difference. They’ve helped me realise that I don’t have to go through this alone.”

“Without Canteen, I wouldn’t have had that safe place to talk, or the people who truly understood. The support I’ve had was only possible because others cared enough to make it happen,” Lucy says. “Being part of Canteen has given me strength, friendship, and hope. They’ve helped me find light in the darkest times, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”