Danny’s story: What Paul’s House means to me

Danny was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2013 and went on to have treatment at UCLH for over a year. During that time, he and his family stayed at our Home from Home, Paul’s House. Danny shares his story and how much Paul’s House meant to his family…

“It all started in 2013 when I was enjoying a relatively active lifestyle in London. I was in my early twenties, getting settled in to working for a great little software company in Clapham and spending my spare time playing squash, 5-a-side football and generally being out and about. Like most young professionals in the area, I enjoyed after-work drinks and the social scene in South London, but otherwise led a pretty healthy lifestyle, so I was massively shocked when the events of that year unfolded…

“Around about Easter time I was cycling back from playing a game of squash in Brixton when I was feeling a soreness in my leg. At first I thought it was an injury. Perhaps as a result of a collision on the court (this happened a lot – I wasn’t great, but I was certainly committed in my matches).

“However, it got worse. And a lump formed. That lump got sore and began to grow and get more painful. And I went through a process of about 6 months of GP visits and referrals. Initially I had an X-Ray but the results weren’t conclusive. So I was referred to have an Ultrasound. Same again. Then an MRI, a CT scan and eventually I was referred for a biopsy around October time. By this time the lump on my leg was around the size of half a tennis ball and I was (by doctors orders) getting through a full pack of ibuprofen every day for the pain.

“As you have no doubt guessed, the results of biopsy confirmed that the lump was cancerous. A rare form of cancer – Osteosarcoma, growing out of my tibia (shin bone). Apparently it affects approx. 1 in a million people, and most common in young adults aged 16-24 years of age. Not that I heard any of this upon learning my news. I only heard one word, and that felt like the end.

“With the support of my girlfriend (now wife) and my family, I eventually came to start to understand the situation and what the course of action was that I needed to take over the following 12 months…

“Whilst this diagnosis is extremely rare, there’s a centre of excellence for this sort of thing and it happened to be not too far away at UCLH. The consultant there, Professor Whelan who teaches other consultants about how to help patients who receive this diagnosis, advised me that I needed to undergo both chemotherapy treatment (to stop the growth) and surgery (to remove the lump).

“I began treatment within a week or two of the diagnosis and managed to cope really well with the first few rounds, before getting to the point when I had to have my surgery (in early January).

“Up until my surgery I was able to mostly travel to and from hospital independently to receive my treatment. However, after the surgery this was not possible. In fact, I couldn’t even get back into my house-share with my mates as it wasn’t wheelchair friendly, my room was on the first floor and a bunch of other reasons.

“It was at this point, January 2014, when I really learned the true value of Paul’s House; a Home from Home funded and ran by Young Lives vs Cancer (then known as CLIC Sargent). I got transported from RNOH Stanmore, where I had my surgery, to Paul’s House as somewhere for me to stay whilst I continued my treatment whilst I needed it and until I was physically able to get back to the house share I was living in with my friends.

“I ended up staying in Paul’s House for approx. 3-4 months, during which time I’d firmly established my living quarters in Room 1 with what felt like my own pharmacy.

“Most importantly though, for me, was the fact that Paul’s House meant that I had an opportunity to retain a bit of normality. Home comforts, as opposed to spending this time stuck in a hospital bed, in a clinical setting, with no real ability to maintain a sense of connection with others.

“Whilst I was living in Paul’s House I was able to have friends, family and colleagues come and visit. There was a kitchen where normal food could be cooked. There was the opportunity to order takeaways. There was a lovely conservatory where we could sit and watch TV (I remember watching the SuperBowl here one of the evenings). And this gave me an ability to maintain a sense of connection with the outside world. Not being confided to being ‘that guy who has cancer’ who no one sees for a long period of time.

“Whilst the rest of the journey through my treatment was tough, really tough (I ended up having to have a second surgery, suffered a couple of very serious infections whilst I had a weakened immune system and had to battle through the last 2 rounds of chemo), I genuinely feel that Paul’s House was a real saviour for me. At the time I think the value was mainly practical – somewhere for my family to stay when coming to visit me, a kitchen to have those home comforts in and a short walk (or push in the wheelchair) to the hospital.

“However, looking back now, 8 years later, I think there’s just as much value in the mental support it gave me. An opportunity to maintain a connection with friends, colleagues and family. Peace of mind that I could relax in this space without worrying about hygiene (owing to the great job that the cleaning team do here). And friendly faces, like the House Manager Eric, and a sense of hope and optimism from living in a home where others are going through a similar journey.”

Danny is now a volunteer for Young Lives vs Cancer, to help us be there for more young people facing cancer and their families, like his. 

Find out more about our volunteering opportunities