Young cancer patient opens up on survivor's guilt

Thomas Ashley, who suffered with mental health problems after overcoming cancer, wants to speak out to help others

A man selected by a national charity to help launch its programme of awards has spoken of the survivor's guilt he felt after twice being given the all-clear for blood cancer.

Thomas Ashley, 24, from Warwickshire, said he developed mental health problems years after undergoing treatment for leukaemia as a teenager.

The content creator now records his experiences and shares them with others who might be struggling.

Cancer Research UK - which has asked Mr Ashley to launch its Star Awards this year - described him as inspirational.

Mr Ashley was diagnosed aged 15 and underwent months of gruelling chemotherapy treatment while completing his secondary school exams.

After being given the all-clear, he was inspired to try out for drama school following a meeting with Star Wars actor Mark Hamill.

But the cancer returned two years later and Mr Ashley had to have a transplant at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital using stem cells donated by his older sister Eve.

Thomas Ashley twice underwent gruelling treatment

Mr Ashley said the mental health impact of surviving trauma was not spoken about enough, especially for young people whose bodies were changing.

He recalled making friends with a fellow cancer patient in hospital before he died.

"You see these people going through what you've been through and question why you are the one who is still alive and not them," he explained.

The cancer survivor has now come through his difficulties

Mr Ashley said he found himself in a spiral of depression and suicidal thoughts.

In January 2021 he was stopped from taking his own life after a phone call to police.

"It got to a point where I didn't know who I was and what I wanted in life," he said.

"I just couldn't seem to escape this universe of feeling awful. I wanted to be like everyone else, just living a life."

Having come through his difficulties, Mr Ashley records his experiences, thoughts and feelings in a blog as well as on Instagram and YouTube.

He hopes he can help and inspire other people struggling with mental health issues.

But he said he would not change what happened for the world, because it made him who he was.

Tom Ashley has been chosen to launch the Cancer Research UK Star Awards

Paula Young, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson for Warwickshire, said the charity was honoured that Mr Ashley was launching this year's Star Awards.

The awards, which recognise the courage of young people who have faced cancer, are open to children under 18 who live in the UK and have been treated for the disease in the past five years.

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