Kristy Pyle was diagnosed with a blood cancer called lymphoma. The following are all Kristy’s words, shared with the Leukaemia Foundation to help raise awareness of blood cancer during September’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2019. 

I was 29 with a 3 year old daughter when I found a lump the size of an egg in my neck. That was a Saturday. On the Monday I went to the doctor, he booked me in for tests – which revealed I had cancer.

I went to see an Oncologist and began Chemo treatment within two weeks. He revealed I had Stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma.

We had to travel to Albury every second Tuesday which was a 3 hour round trip. It was tough and made me very very sick for the remainder of the week, I would come good the next week then back for the next treatment on the following Tuesday, I had 8 rounds of chemo!

I then began radiation treatment. I had it each day for 19 days, so once again a 3 hour round trip each day!

It was a lot of travelling but it was important to me to keep things as normal as possible for my 3 year old daughter.

Now 11 years on I am cancer free. I still have yearly check ups which I don’t mind going too as it gives me piece of mind that I am still ok.

Having cancer has made me really value my life, I don’t take things for granted, I tell those I love that I love them all the time. I always tell people to be aware of their bodies, check themselves for any changes and as scary as it is to get checked quickly.

Having cancer is scary but I am thankful everyday that I got better.

My Oncologist Dr Richard Eek from Border Medical Oncology is my hero – he saved my life and I will be forever grateful to him.