Dylan Evans takes JOE to Lister Macmillan Centre for a spot of chemotherapy
Dylan Evans gave up his job to follow a dream – becoming a professional MMA fighter – but in January he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of blood cancer.
The disease is being treated with chemotherapy, and Dylan’s haematologist has already given him the all-clear but, like a course of antibiotics, he must still finish his prescription. Trudging to the Lister Macmillan Centre in Stevenage. On August 10 he’ll be done, dusted and training to get back into the cage.
For the time being though, Dylan’s focus is on medicine, and the gradual decline of his eyebrows.
“I woke up this morning and I was pissed that I had to go chemo,” Dylan says. “I could’ve sat there all day dwelling that I’ve got to go treatment. For the week after I can’t do anything. But I stay positive… move or die.”
“Some times it takes a long time, some times I’m there for hours and hours before I get seen. Hopefully today will be a quick one.
“Hard to be positive today, but it’s shit enough as it is, I don’t want to make it any harder for myself.
“I feel like shit already, it’s not anxiety, it’s squeamishness, because I know what’s inbound.
“They struggled to find my veins, that’s tedious. They have to try, the only way you can try and find them, obviously, is with a needle. If they miss they’ve got to try again.
“I remember once they missed and put saline through, my fucking hand inflated. It wasn’t in the vein. That makes me cringe every tie I think about stuff like that.
“Bit slower today, it really does knock it out of you. Shout out to the chemo nurses, at Lister, they work hard, understaffed. They graft, and they make you feel good.
“Looking forward to next week when I can get back in the gym again.”
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