A Young Man's Journey to Inspire Health Heroes During Blood Cancer Awareness Month

At the tender age of 17, Tom Lewis faced a life-altering diagnosis: Hodgkin lymphoma.

Tom, now 20, from Bebington in Wirral, vividly recalls the early signs that something was wrong.

"I was constantly tired, experiencing night sweats, and plagued by skin rashes," he said.

The cause remained elusive until a baseball-sized lump appeared on his neck near the clavicle. It was only then that tests at Arrowe Park Hospital led to a sobering discovery: Hodgkin’s lymphoma—a blood cancer that originates in the lymphatic system.

“I remember the night before my first chemotherapy where I was in tears because I was so scared. That was the first time it hit me that what was happening was real,” he said.

Tom’s aggressive form of cancer required a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. The weekly treatments took a toll on his body, making eating difficult and limiting his activities due to a PICC line, a thin, flexible tube inserted through a peripheral vein into a larger one near the heart.

“The first round of chemo was definitely the worst,” he said. “Try and imagine the sickest you have ever felt. It was like having food poisoning all the time. It was tough.”

His teenage years slipped away, replaced by hospital stays, treatments, and uncertainty. While his peers enjoyed carefree moments, Tom grappled with illness, forced to grow up prematurely.

“It stole the remainder of my teenage years,” he said. “When diagnosed with cancer, all my friends were going out and doing normal stuff. I had to sit on the side-lines and watch everyone else living their lives.”

Hair loss and lost confidence marred his journey. He even deferred his university plans due to illness.

Then, a glimmer of hope emerged—a perfect donor on the registry.

A life-saving transplant changed everything. Tom stepped back into the world and is now working in the hospitality sector, his newfound people skills blossoming.

“It has given me a chance to get back out there and socialise,” he said. “Immunosuppressed, I had been isolated for a long time.”

During a stem cell swabbing event in collaboration with Arrowe Park Hospital, cancer charity DKMS, and building contractors Tilbury Douglas, Tom’s message was clear: “Take the opportunity to help someone because it’s done wonders for me.”

Being on a registry signifies a commitment to potentially save a life. While there is no guarantee of donation requests, each registration amplifies optimism. Currently, 2,000 people in the UK seek their stem cell match. 

When asked about the lessons from this arduous chapter, Tom’s reply is unwavering: “Be resilient,” he said. “Stay strong, even when things get tough.”

Below: Tom’s mum Elaine Lewis, an advanced nurse practitioner at Arrowe Park Hospital, Tom and DKMS's Louise Clague.