When Maddie Gillespie noticed a mark on her back after a night out, she assumed it was a cigarette burn - but after further investigations, she was dealt a devastating blow.
The 19-year-old was diagnosed with stage three cancer, only after the East Belfast woman's friend urged her to get the mark checked out by a doctor.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Maddie, who works in Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre as a receptionist, lifeguard and swimming teacher, underwent treatment for melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Now, she is raising awareness for the signs and symptoms of cancer in young people after going through her own doubts about her health.
Read more: Boy diagnosed with cancer after symptoms thought to be puberty related
"I had gone on a night out with my friends from work and the next morning I noticed something on my back," she said.
"It was like a perfect circle, almost like a blister. My friend looked at it and we thought someone had burned me with a cigarette the night before. For a few weeks I just left it, but it was irritating me. It had been bleeding and I said to my friend to look at it again. At that stage, she said it was a mole on my back.
"But I played ignorant, I was only 19, I didn't think it was ever going to be something serious, but my friend convinced me to go to the doctor.
"She actually dropped me off to the appointment, to make sure I went. When I was seen, the person who examined me didn't think it was anything to worry about. I felt like they thought I was being dramatic when explaining symptoms. That is a massive issue for so many young people, who feel disregarded because they are young.
"That was around the start of December, and I didn't get an appointment with the dermatologist until the end of January. I didn't get my biopsy until March then. In May, I was told that I had stage three melanoma.
"With skin cancer melanoma, there are no other symptoms. It is a change in skin, which is what I had. It came as such a shock to me because I only had the one symptom. If my friend hadn't of pushed me, I wouldn't have got it checked out. I suppose, I couldn't see the mark, it was on my back, so I didn't worry about it.
"I had a voice in the back of my head telling me there may have been something wrong. I didn't want to believe it. When I first found out, I was in shock, there was no real reaction from me. My family were devastated, and in pieces, but I shut down. I don't think I have ever cried over it, that's just how I deal with it. Why would I get upset over something that I cannot control?
"Because I didn't feel sick, I felt a bit like a fraud. I didn't feel sick until I went through the treatment."
Maddie underwent surgery and had a wide skin excision and a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), which is a test to find out if the cancer had spread. The teenager had six inches of skin removed from her back, and lymph nodes removed from her left armpit and right lower back.
It turned out that the cancer had spread to two lymph nodes and Maddie started immunotherapy two weeks later.
She added: "They wanted me to start straight away, as a preventative treatment, but I asked could I have a bit of a breather first. I don't have any cancer in my body now, they are pretty certain that everything has been removed now."
Maddie is now working with the Teenage Cancer Trust, who were there for her since the day of her diagnosis. Their specialist nurses were there to answer any questions Maddie or her family had.
Last month, she attended Teenage Cancer Trust Royal Albert Hall gigs and got the Ultimate Backstage Experience. Maddie and her friend Taise saw Wet Leg perform live on Wednesday March 22.
They also had the chance to have their own moment in the spotlight when they were invited on stage to take a selfie with the 5,000 strong crowd, who lit their phone torches to show their support for young people with cancer. The girls also had a behind the scenes tour of the iconic venue and enjoyed a backstage dinner and overnight stay in a central London hotel.
"When I first got diagnosed, there was a nurse walking into the room with me, and I noticed she had a Teenage Cancer Trust badge on. That is when I knew what I was about to be told," Maddie told Belfast Live.
"It was nice to have someone there, that was just so reassuring. When the doctor had broken the news to me, the Teenage Cancer Trust nurse Lisa was there to answer any questions I had. It was very reassuring to have them there. Lisa came to my house and had a meeting with my family to explain what they could do for us. I have three younger siblings who were hit quite hard by my diagnosis, and the Teenage Cancer Trust was there for them too.
"It's easier said than done, but my advice is for young people to fight their corner. Argue your case and don't be afraid to push for more tests.
"Even being young, it is easy to ignore symptoms. That is what I did. If you have a gut feeling, don't ignore it. In my head I thought it could be skin cancer, but I barely have even suffered sun burn, and have never done a sunbed - so I thought it couldn't be skin cancer then.
"When I was first diagnosed, I blamed myself. I thought I maybe could have prevented it from happening but my doctor really reassured me, that I couldn't have done anything to stop it. Now I want to speak out to raise awareness for cancer in young people, and the important work of the Teenage Cancer Trust."
On her experience at the Royal Albert Hall, Maddie said: "My Ultimate Backstage Experience at the Royal Albert Hall was a once in a lifetime experience and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have taken part in something so amazing. There wasn’t a dull moment and being able to bring my friend Taise with me and make those memories with her was fantastic.
"The whole experience was so special, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Royal Albert Hall staff were so welcoming and accommodating! Being given the opportunity to meet Wet Leg and ask them questions was fantastic, and the concert itself was phenomenal. I didn’t know how I’d feel going up on the stage, and was initially very nervous, but when everyone in the crowd turned their lights on to show their support for me and other young people with an experience of cancer, it was just amazing.
"I am so appreciative of Teenage Cancer Trust and their supporters for making events like this for young people like me possible. I will never forget my experience and will treasure the memories forever."
In addition to sponsoring the Ultimate Backstage Experience, over the past seven years, Domino’s has raised £6.5 million to support Teenage Cancer Trust’s vital work and ensure that cancer doesn’t stop young people with cancer living their lives.
Through its annual series of gigs at the Royal Albert Hall Teenage Cancer Trust has raised over £30 million to fund its specialist units, nurses, and youth support teams across the UK for young people aged 13-24. This year, top performers including Underworld, comedian Alan Carr, Kasabian and legends Roger Daltrey and Joan Armatrading all performed for free to help young people with cancer.
Kelly Scott, Head of Youth Engagement, Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "Going through cancer and treatment at a young age can be extremely isolating and people can often miss out on experiences that others take for granted. That’s why we organise lots of events that bring young people affected by cancer together so they can experience new things, have the opportunity make friends with people who understand what they’ve been through, and have fun."
Clive West of Domino's Pizza Group Domino’s, added: "As a long standing partner of the Teenage Cancer Trust, we are so proud to able to support the incredible work they do. Bringing young people affected by cancer together can be life changing, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to make this happen through this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust Ultimate Backstage Experience."
Please click this link for more information on Teenager Cancer Trust, including signs and symptoms of cancer.
READ NEXT:
NI man's monthly fundraising challenges for Marie Curie in memory of loved ones
Woman who went to doctor with menopause symptoms left 'numb' by brain tumour diagnosis
- 'She believed in goodness': Tributes after death of NI mental health nurse
NI woman on finding comfort in Hospice Walks after losing her parents
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
