I Had Cancer As A Teenager... Would I Want To Be Treated By The NHS Today?

Crisis is a big word. Sure, we add it after ‘identity’ and ‘quarter-life’ as part of our all-too regular self-analysis routines but, at its core, the term speaks of intense difficulty and danger. An emergency; catastrophe; calamity. Right now, our National Health Service is in crisis. Reflecting on my own experience of having cancer as a teenager, this piece predicts a different outcome had I have been treated with today’s chemotherapy and surgery waiting lists. Highlighting the urgent need for change, championing the doctors and facing the sobering life risks. Insights from a newly qualified female doctor and representative from Macmillan Cancer Support, included.