Shell is hilarious. An incredible story teller with a wicked sense of humour and the ability to take a positive spin on pretty much anything. She’s also a four time cancer survivor.
Receiving her first devastating cancer diagnosis at just 21-years-old, it’s fair to say Shell Rowe has dealt with a lifetime’s worth of bad luck over the past two years.
Just about to finish her second year at university, aspiring filmmaker Shell, from Billericay, Essex, had just received the news that she had been accepted onto a filmmaking course in California and was preparing to jet off on an exciting new chapter of her life.
But a week before she was meant to leave, she noticed a lump in her throat - something she originally thought might be a thyroid problem. However, after further investigation, she was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin's lymphoma. Her dreams in the US would have to wait.
Shell began an excruciating and intensive treatment plan but defied all odds and eventually went into remission. However, as she began planning how to get her life back on track, only months later, she was told the cancer had returned.
This cycle was to repeat itself twice more until Shell had received four separate cancer diagnoses over the space of only two years.
She recalled the traumatic time, telling The Mirror: “I've had like seven different kinds of treatments for everything from standard chemotherapy to CAR T-cell therapy, stem cell transplant, clinical trials. The most recent is a stem cell transplant.”
Miraculously, and through a whole lot of sheer determination and fight, Shell is now in remission for the fourth time - and the longest.
“I've been in remission for about 10 months now, maybe. Certainly a record for me, which is great," she adds.
Early on in her ordeal, Shell took to making videos on TikTok, which she said started out as her just dancing and lip-syncing to songs - videos that didn’t garner much attention outside of her friends and family.
But when she posted a story time video about a rude woman she came across in a Macmillan Cancer Centre, she got her first taste of internet virality - and perhaps what was to come.
Shell said: “It went viral and got like 20 or 30,000 likes or something which, at the time, which was absolutely insane to me. And I think after I posted that video, I got my first 1000 followers. So I just kept on making content since then. And it's kind of evolved as I've gone through my journey.”
Shell continued to post updates and story times and her content developed from there.
She said: “I had always enjoyed making silly videos and I used to do it when I was at school with my friends but I would never share them so it just kind of encompassed everything that I already enjoy doing.
“But I was always worried what people would think of me and then when I got my diagnosis, I was like, well, it doesn't really matter what they think of me anymore because no one's really gonna say anything to you, you know?
“And then you get people telling me that they're proud of you and the things like the way that you've helped them as well. Like people say, ‘Oh, you brought joy to my family’. It was absolutely crazy to get these messages.
“You just you just start making content and it's silly and it passes the time. And before you know, it turns into something that's much bigger than you could ever anticipate. And it's just been fantastic.”
Shell's unique ability to laugh - and make you laugh - about some of the toughest moments in her life and candour about her gruelling treatment propelled her views and, now two years later, she has amassed an incredible 701,000 followers.
Shell said about her positivity: “I think to an extent I always had the attitude of like turning negative things into something positive.
“I don't know just every time the news got worse, it always seemed like more of a reason to laugh, which sounds terrible, but it was like, what else can I do? I'm completely powerless if I don't laugh at it."
Her new found internet fame and infectious sense of humour began opening up a number of opportunities for Shell.
Working with the leading cancer charity, Teenage Cancer Trust, she took part in a campaign called ‘Anything But Hair’, showcasing ‘hairless hairstyles’ in a bid to raise funds and spread positivity around hair loss.
In her latest remarkable stunt, Shell starred in superstar Lewis Capaldi’s music video to his hit song, ‘Forget You’, sharing her incredible story of recovery, offering hope to others going through hard times.
She recalled revelling in the experience: “Being interested in film, I felt like I was in my element. I've been desperate to get more into the film side of things as well because it fascinates me.”
People flooded the comments section of the video which has now had over 230 thousand views to share their support for Shell.
“I went on there and had a quick read through the comments and I just broke down in tears because there were comments from people from Texas, Ghana and Mexico, all over the world. And people just leave these really lovely comments.”
Some examples read:
“What a beautiful and inspiring story! Shell is a real fighter.”
“What an incredible woman. I found her on TikTok and she is such a ray of sunshine. The world needs more people like Shell!”
Shell graduated from University last year, winning a scholarship with Warner Brothers film studios. She has plans to make a sequel to her recently released short film.
Shell shared the poignant lessons she’s learned over the last few years.
She said: “If I've learned anything from the last few years is that I have no idea what's around the corner. I can't predict it. But I say yes to everything. And it always seems to work out you know, even if, right in the moment, I can't see what, you know?"
“Why is the universe doing this? What is your plan for me? It all falls into place. And right now, it's always working. It's like I wake up excited. I'm like, What am I gonna do today and then I get an email.
“I just kind of put my trust into the universe now.”
