A graduate says she’s hoping to help other young people who experience what she went through, after beating cancer while completing her Master’s degree.
Abbie Smith began her Masters in Sports Coaching at the University of Worcester in September 2022 but was diagnosed the following May with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, a rare and fast-growing type of cancer.
“My symptoms started about 3 weeks before my cancer diagnosis, and I was misdiagnosed 6 times in those 3 weeks,” she said. “The symptoms developed really, really quickly and as I was doing so much exercise, most were put down to my active lifestyle. My initial symptom was back pain, which was diagnosed as a pulled muscle initially; we later found out it was being caused by a mass in my chest and fluid in my lungs. Other symptoms that developed were an arm rash, sore throat, lost voice, followed by breathlessness during small amounts of exercise. The final symptoms which I was subsequently sent to accident and emergency for was a swollen arm which my GP thought could be a blood clot – it was at this A&E visit that I had multiple scans which showed cancer, although the type was not confirmed until a few days later after biopsies and more tests.”
After she finally received her diagnosis, Abbie spent an extended period in hospital before continuing her treatment at home.
“I spent nine weeks as an inpatient in hospital,” said Abbie, who underwent 30 months of chemotherapy. “I was in a wheelchair for 18 months; I had to teach myself how to walk and run again.”
Having always led an active life, adjusting to the limitations imposed on her treatment was one of the biggest challenges she faced.
Abbie, who also studied her undergraduate degree at the University of Worcester, said she missed the physical and social sides of the sports she was passionate about.
“I was still going to matches and doing the scoring from my wheelchair because I didn’t want to miss out,” she said. “I went through a stage where I was playing walking netball, which I still do a bit now but I’m back playing the full running game now.”
“I always knew I would play again, and I’m now back playing cricket and netball again,” she added.
Alongside her recovery, Abbie was determined to complete her studies, despite the impact treatment had on her day-to-day life.
“I’d set myself mini deadlines in my head, because I think if I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have been able to get the work done,” she said. “There were days when I had planned to get lots done, but then I’d wake up and realise that getting from the bed to the sofa was an accomplishment for that day, so my plans changed all the time.”
Abbie said she drew on her experiences for her main research project, her dissertation.
“I actually wrote my dissertation on cancer, and the role of physical activity across the cancer continuum,” she said. “I interviewed oncology physiotherapists and young cancer patients about their experience of exercise before, during, and after treatment.”
Before her diagnosis, sport had been a major factor in her decision to study at Worcester.
“I visited Worcester quite a lot, just to make sure I was certain it was what I wanted,” she said. “I liked that it wasn’t a massive campus, but big enough where I could play cricket and I knew the netball programme at the University was good as well.”
She added: “I was in the Strength and Conditioning suite early in the mornings before my lectures, but I really liked that. It gave me a good routine because I was never really into going out clubbing, that’s never been my vibe, so sports was a really good way for me to make friends.”
Having completed her Master’s degree while undergoing treatment, Abbie said she is proud of what she achieved.
“It’s crazy to look back on the last three years,” she said. “Sometimes I sit and ask myself; ‘did that just happen?!’”
Looking to the future, Abbie said she’d like to combine her education with her experiences.
“At the moment, I’m working in the gym I went to while I was doing my treatment,” she said. “It’s an inclusive, accessibly gym, with sit down machines, and the owner offered me a job there.”
“I’m looking into working in the charity sector as a way of giving back,” she added. “Right now I don’t have a set plan as I’ve learnt to live in the moment more now as life is so fragile, but I think I would like a job role within the cancer charity sector would be good, a chance to use my experiences to help others through theirs”
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk