Student encourages others to talk about cancer

Helen Haar has now returned to her studies at the University of Northampton after cancer treatment

A woman diagnosed with cancer aged 20 has been encouraging other young people to share their experience of the condition with one another.

Helen Haar, now 28, from Northampton, had a rare sub-type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma discovered in 2017.

The student at the town's university said the support of other young people with cancer helped her recovery.

"There were conversations that we had that I wouldn't be able to have with my uni mates or work mates as they wouldn't understand," she said.

Helen Haar went through treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy for her cancer

Ms Haar said while studying she developed pains in her chest, which was thought to be minor inflammation.

But four months later she woke up and her face had swollen to the extent she found it hard to see. That March she was diagnosed with cancer.

She then embarked on a course of treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The student said: "Because the diagnosis was a surprise and the treatment was finished within eight months, I didn't have time to get my head around it."

'We laughed so much'

Ms Haar said she "had a lot of anxiety and felt safer in hospital and when I did go home, I cried every single day".

Although she tried psychotherapy and counselling, what helped her most was meeting other young people affected by cancer at a Teenage Cancer Trust event.

She said: "Being around other young people who had been through cancer too was really helpful.

"I learned about their coping mechanisms and what was useful to them. It was nice to learn from each other.

"We did talk about serious things, but we also talked about the humorous parts of treatment without thinking: 'Oh, am I allowed to say that?'

"We laughed so much and people who haven't had cancer wouldn't expect that."

Helen Haar's cancer was diagnosed after her face swelled up

Ms Haar has now returned to university graduating in psychosocial community work and is now studying for her masters in child and adolescent mental health at Northampton University.

She has been also working with Teenage Cancer Trust to encourage other young people with cancer to talk about experience and use the charity for information and support.

Ms Haar said it was "easy to compare yourself" to others on social media but that was not helpful.

"Remember that everyone's journey is different and however you feel is OK."