Teenager Chloe Drew-Batty was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma during the Covid lockdown - read about her experience, her treatment at Addenbrooke's and how it led to songwriting.
About a month into lockdown in April 2020, I noticed a lump on my collarbone.
“I was in year 11 doing my GCSEs when the country went into lockdown. Both of my parents are music teachers and I’ve always had a passion for music, so I decided to use the time to write, record and produce some music.
“I’d played the guitar since I was ten, but I’d never had the confidence to make my own music because I didn’t think it would be good enough.
"With all the spare time on my hands, I thought it was the perfect time to try.
“I bought some equipment and started trying out the music software programme.
"It was quite a learning curve, but it has been really fun to do. I fell in love with making music, but I didn’t take it that seriously and I didn’t plan to share it as I was so self-conscious.
“About a month into lockdown in April 2020, I noticed a lump on my collarbone."
The staff were reassuring, and kind and I saw other young people around my age.
"The doctor did a blood test and they thought it was glandular fever. That gave me a false sense of security. When the lump didn’t go away, I was referred for a biopsy at my local hospital.
“I had cancer right at the back of my mind, but because I had quite a long wait, I was almost certain it wasn’t that. I thought: ‘It can’t be serious if they are making me wait that long’.
“I was with my mum when they told me I had Hodgkin lymphoma.
"I was only 16 and didn’t know much about different types of cancer. I felt more relieved when they told me there was a high success rate for treating it.
“After the diagnosis in July, things started to move more quickly. I was referred to the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and I went to look around before starting my chemotherapy.
"The staff were reassuring, and kind and I saw other young people around my age.
“They had a great social area with a pool table, so it felt more relaxed and homely. That was great as when you’re my age you don’t want to be in a really clinical setting all of the time.
Someone described it to me as feeling like your batteries have been taken out and that’s exactly what it was like.
“Because of lockdown, I wasn’t sure if my treatment would be affected, but luckily I started a week after my diagnosis.
"As I’m under 18, I was able to have a parent with me during my treatment. This really helped me as I wouldn’t have wanted to be by myself for five hours while receiving treatment; I would have been left with my thoughts too much.
"I think young people need someone with them to talk about normal life as it takes you away from what’s happening to you.
“Rosie, Teenage Cancer Trust’s Clinical Nurse Specialist, was a big support. It can get disheartening when you deal with a lot of doctors who tell you the hard facts, but Rosie knew how to talk to young people. She was really friendly, and it felt more like day-to-day chat. That made the experience a lot easier.
“I had chemo from August (2020) until November (2020). I felt exhausted for about a week after each chemo cycle. Someone described it to me as feeling like your batteries have been taken out and that’s exactly what it was like.
The diagnosis and treatment sparked a lot of ideas within me that I didn’t have before.
“I didn’t have the energy to make and produce the music during that time, but I had lots of ideas which I jotted down. It helped distract me and made me happy. The lyrics weren’t directly about my cancer diagnosis, but a lot of my anxiety and how I felt about life went into it.
"The diagnosis and treatment sparked a lot of ideas within me that I didn’t have before.
“After feeling knocked out for days after a cycle, I’d then feel the opposite and be raring to go. I made the most of that energy to record and produce the music.
“The album really just sums up the whole year with all the lockdowns and quite a bit of what I’d been thinking about the world.
“As cliché as it sounds, my cancer diagnosis showed me the value of life and showed me that I had to make the most of every opportunity.
"I had been nervous about sharing my music but now I thought: ‘If I don’t do it now, I might not get another opportunity’. I knew that I couldn’t keep putting things off.
Having more self-confidence is definitely one of the more positive things to have come out of having cancer and I will forever be grateful for that.
"I decided to put the my album called Volatile out and adapted my middle name to become my artist name - Pearll.
“My friends had only ever heard me play the guitar and had never heard me sing. They were shocked that I was releasing an album, but they loved it and were proud of me.
“All of the profits from my album sales are going to Teenage Cancer Trust. The charity helped me so much and help lots of other people my age.
“I want to pursue my music further and my dad is setting up gigs for me.
"Before being diagnosed with cancer, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to release an album or perform in public. Having more self-confidence is definitely one of the more positive things to have come out of having cancer and I will forever be grateful for that.
“After my chemo, I had some radiotherapy which finished in May (2021) and after tests I was told I was cancer free."
"I was really happy and relieved, not only for myself but I think it takes a massive toll on everyone involved. The whole experience was very emotionally and physically draining, so it was a massive weight taken off for a lot of people.
Almost 2 years on, Chloe now studies at BIMM music institute in Brighton and her band Pearll goes from strength to strength.
Cambridge Children's Hospital, the first specialist children's hospital for the East of England, will provide the very best care for children and young people aged 0-19, including those with cancer.
Teenage Cancer Trust cancer is holding a fundraising concert at the Royal Albert Hall from Mar 20-26, Tickets at teenagecancertrust.org.