Hi, my name is Caitlin,
I would like to tell you my journey so far with cancer, my journey began on the 16th October 2026, when I was going for a routine MRI scan of my full spine. I was not at all worried. I have had them many times. The point of this MRI was to be followed up with the steroid injections that help with my sciatica that I suffer from. I have rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative arthritis and osteoarthritis which affect my mobility. The steroid injections are done to help ease the pain. I have prolapsed discs in the spine which, although they are not completely trapping the nerves they are causing sciatica.
I was not due to see the surgical team until the end of November to discuss the findings, on Monday the 26th of October 2026, I was called in to speak with the team. I was confused about what they were saying. I'm autistic, with ADHD and dyslexia. All I was concentrating on was "when am I going to get the injections to ease the sciatica, as by December I am going to be back in my wheelchair." (In January 2021 I was attacked for being trans, and as a result confined to a wheelchair for over four years, with limited mobility. I fought long and hard to get out the wheelchair for my own dignity. Before the attack I had some mobility issues but did not need to use a wheelchair)
He said “Ms. Callaghan, you have blood cancer" and showed me all the lesions along the spine, he did not tell me about the tumour in my skull. For the last year, I have had to change my glasses three times because my eyesight was getting worse. The migraines were not getting any better.
On the 5th of October 2026, I started my Law degree as a mature student. However, the month of October, I remember I was really struggling to read. It was as if someone had put something in front of my eyes, like a grey mist but the visibility was becoming more and more blurred despite only changing my glasses in September.
For the last two or so months my throat glands have been enlarged. When I saw my GP on Thursday 29th October, she said "Caitlin, these are massive, they are like golf balls, why have you not come to see me sooner?" I replied, "there is no pain". I suffer from Anorexia, and have lost a lot of weight in the last 2 - 4 months, about 7 - 10 kg.
Last Thursday, 5th of November, I had a biopsy of the right throat gland, the consultant conducting the ultra-scan stated he has not seen Lymph nodes so distorted in his 23 years of doing this work.
I was meant to have a CT scan on Friday the 6th, however that got changed to a PET Scan, I got home after the PET Scan and was told that there is something blocking my kidney and I had to go to A & E. I was in A & E for about 14 hours. My voice keeps breaking and I cannot use it.
I have some form of Lymph node cancer. I do not have family and very few friends. Not only that, but I have a dog that I trained to be my assistance dog, her name is 'Precious', I am scared, and I am worried about the future. If something happens to me. I am finding that I am getting breathless more easily.
I am seeing the haematologist on Friday, 13th (not a good omen!). I lost my sister three years ago to suicide as she was failed by the mental health services, I am going through a legal battle about that, I am not giving that up.
I live in South London. I would prefer not to be contacted by men, please.
