Molly Cuddihy realised how ailing she was when the radiographer began crying throughout her scan.
Later that day a guide advised the then 15-year-old that she had a uncommon type of bone most cancers.
Time was essential and she or he needed to begin chemotherapy on the Royal Hospital for Youngsters in Glasgow the next week.
Molly, who was making ready for her Nationwide 5 exams, had mapped out her life and deliberate to check medication.
She stated: “That was all taken away from me in lower than a minute. Every thing falls away.
“There are such a lot of elements of your life that it reaches into and impacts.
“It’s so rather more than only a most cancers prognosis.”
The maths scholar, who now has no lively cells, is certainly one of eight ladies who share their tales in a candid new podcast.
Radio Therapy is geared toward younger folks and covers themes together with psychological well being, physique picture and mortality.
The six-part sequence, produced by Glasgow-based Go Radio, has proved cathartic for the contributors and illuminating for his or her family members.
Molly, 21, advised BBC Scotland Information: “There’s issues that I’ve stated on the podcast that they’ve by no means heard me say earlier than they usually have lived it with me.
“It’s nearly like letting folks in on a secret.”
The coed, from Gourock, Inverclyde, felt one thing was flawed for about six months earlier than she was lastly identified with metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma on 16 January 2018.
That day, the radiographer chatted and acquired to know her beforehand in a bid to calm her nerves.
However what occurred subsequent took them each unexpectedly.
Molly stated: “The lady who was doing my scan began crying.
“If that was not a tell-tale signal then I do not know what was.”
{The teenager} was transferred to A&E the place she was given one other scan after which admitted to the hospital’s Schiehallion ward, which cares for kids and younger folks with blood-borne ailments and cancers.
Molly stated: “All my guide stated to me was ‘we’re treating to remedy it’ and that is all I wanted to know.”
For those who’ve been affected by the problems on this story, assist and help is offered by way of the BBC Action Line
Psychological well being is among the important themes of the podcast and Molly speaks with exceptional honesty about her personal experiences.
She stated: “I used to be going via it for 2 years and I used to be advantageous after which I had a stem cell transplant in 2020 and I completely broke down.
“I actually could not deal with it any extra and I struggled for a protracted, very long time.”
Molly stated admitting she wanted assist was the “hardest half” and she or he wished extra help was out there six years in the past.
She added: “The podcast lets folks hear that they aren’t on their very own, that that is how another person skilled it, with out really having to depart the consolation of their room.
“They’ll entry all of it on their telephone in hospital.”
Molly in contrast the expertise of many most cancers survivors to troopers getting back from a conflict zone.
She added: “You do not simply count on them to be okay when it is all completed and they’re dwelling.”
The coed admitted she nonetheless has hassle sleeping and infrequently will get flashbacks to instances when she wasn’t sedated.
Molly stated: “There was lots of issues that I used to be awake for that I am consistently remembering. That is exhausting to deal with.
“I believe I’ve come to phrases with the truth that I had it and, to be fairly blunt, I nearly died from it.
“It’s extra that I’m scuffling with every part I’ve been left with.”
Whereas present process chemotherapy Molly additionally skilled “horrifying” shivers that had been linked to a hospital-acquired an infection.
In 2021 she recalled her ordeal when she gave evidence before the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.
Though she has accomplished her most cancers remedy, she has been left with irreparable liver harm and desires a kidney transplant.
Julie Cain, Teenage Most cancers Belief nationwide lead nurse for Scotland, got here up with the concept for the podcast.
She stated: “We neglect how stunning it’s to listen to younger folks speaking so overtly about being given a most cancers prognosis and having to ask ‘am I going to die?’
“For me what shone via is that it’s utterly unscripted and utterly genuine.
“It’s a group of younger folks having a chat and saying ‘me too’.”
The ladies replicate on dwelling with disabilities, fears they might by no means maintain down a job and “scanxiety” round check-ups.
Molly stated: “Dwelling and surviving are two various things. Loads of us will not be actually dwelling.”
‘Physique neutrality modified my perspective’
Mairi MacLean, 24, additionally options on the brand new Radio Remedy podcast.
She was first identified on the age of eight and is at present receiving her seventh remedy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
For years Mairi struggled with the “tiresome and defeating” physique positivity that stuffed her social media feeds.
However the idea of “physique neutrality” modified her perspective.
She defined: “To be at peace together with your physique, not consuming power in loving or hating it.
“It’s a vessel that’s making an attempt exhausting to outlive every day, whether or not you may have an sickness or not, and that’s actually exceptional.
“My physique will fluctuate and alter over and over however I’m at peace with that as a result of I like the energy and perseverance of it.”
The podcast additionally offers with the side-effects of gruelling remedy, together with hair loss and dramatic weight adjustments.
It was funded by Each Thank You Counts, a charity arrange by Molly and her pal, Sara Millar, in 2019.
Since then, it has raised greater than £300,000 for a brand new pre-teen widespread room within the Schiehallion ward and ongoing enhancements, comparable to new loungers.
Every episode options three ladies speaking frankly about their experiences.
Dana Maitles reveals her father stored an in depth journal of all of the optimistic issues she stated after she was identified with blood most cancers on her 18th birthday.
When Dana, now 20, was struggling he learn again her personal phrases in a bid to carry her spirits.
Molly stated folks typically discover it troublesome to speak to most cancers sufferers or say the flawed factor.
She added: “Lots of people requested me if I used to be going to die? You do not need to hear that. Or say ‘my gran died of most cancers’.”
One other problem is being requested extremely private questions, on points comparable to fertility.
Molly stated: “Folks neglect you’re a individual and also you very a lot turn out to be the sickness, particularly if you find yourself younger.”
The podcast highlights the necessity for sufferers to “be egocentric” in terms of speaking about their situation.
And Molly stated a easy assertion from well-wishers, comparable to “I’m considering of you” or “I’m right here”, goes a good distance.
She added: “Generally it is all you need and that’s such a comforting and wonderful message to learn.”
Final month the Princess of Wales introduced in a video message that she is undergoing cancer treatment.
Molly described the information as “unhappy and horrible” however believes her phrases will assist others.
She stated: “You may say to a wee woman who’s going via remedy ‘you will be like Princess Kate’.
“She is doing one thing very highly effective by telling her story.”
