Gina praises support in her battle with cancer

Gina praises support in her battle with cancer

5 February 2025

A YOUNG Downpatrick woman diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2023 has shared her inspiring journey to recovery.

As part of World Cancer Day yesterday, software engineer Gina Lonegran (23) has praised the support she and her family received from the Ulster Hospital’s Macmillan Unit team and their partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Lives vs Cancer, both of which are charities for young people with cancer.

Gina said to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation to “think of the future as there is light at the end of the tunnel”.

Following her diagnosis, Gina and her family were contacted by the South Eastern Trust’s Adolescent and Young Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist Lisa Callender at the Ulster Hospital. 

After meeting Lisa and Young Lives vs Cancer social worker Silé O’Loughlin, there was an informal discussion about what would happen over the next months, Gina’s diagnosis and the treatment she would be receiving.

Gina started chemotherapy and then had to go on an escalated treatment called ‘BEACOPP’ which was a combination of chemotherapy drugs.

Throughout her journey, Lisa and Silé were so supportive as well as Gina’s family and friends.

“I was in hospital quite a bit so it was nice to have the support of all those people,” Gina said.

“I finished treatment last July and at the start of this month I was told I was officially in remission and my scans were clear.”

Gina said news she was in remission gave her “peace of mind”.

She continued: “I graduated in December and can move on and do things this year. I think you have to have the right mindset and the support I received really helped.”

Clinical nurse specialist Lisa explained how she and her team work with between 11 to 16 young patients each year. 

From April 2023 through to March last year, Lisa met 22 patients – their highest number to date.

“My role is funded by Teenage Cancer Trust and I have a very close working relationship with our social work team who form a vital part of this service and they are employed 

and funded by Young Lives vs Cancer charity,” Lisa explained.

“When a young person is diagnosed with cancer, and by that we mean anyone aged from 16 to the eve of their 25th birthday, they are referred to me. On the new encompass patient record system we have an online referral form that can be completed by the referring doctor.

“This can be a diagnosis of any cancer, whether it requires surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.”

Lisa said that once a young person is referred to her, she then contacts the social work team and we will meet with the young person and their family, usually at their home. 

“We also aim to be at their clinic appointments too,” she continued.

“Teenage Cancer Trust is such an important charity for young people who have a cancer diagnosis. They offer support by sharing the experiences of other young people, age appropriate information and peer support events.

“One such event is in London next month. It’s ‘The Ultimate Backstage 

Experience’ at the Royal Albert Hall. Myself and a youth support worker from Cancer Fund For Children are supporting two young people to go to the event.”

Lisa said such events help the young people know that they are not alone as they have a shared experience.

“When young people come up to the chemotherapy unit or to the wards, they are surrounded by older people and what Teenage Cancer Trust aims to do, is to make sure that no young person faces cancer alone by ensuring that there is a specialist team there to support them,” she explained.

Silé said meeting and working with Gina and her family was an “absolute honour”.

Describing Gina as an “amazing young woman, with an amazing support system, Silé said it was a real honour to walk alongside Gina and her family this past year.

She continued: “My case load is to work with AYAs (Adolescents and Young Adults) with a cancer diagnosis. 

“The medical teams take care of the young person’s treatment plan on their cancer journey and Young Lives are here to help with social, emotional, 

financial and psychological supports. I work collaboratively with Lisa at the Ulster Hospital and we often do a home visit together and keep in regular contact throughout that young person’s treatment.”

Silé said AYAs have their own unique needs due to their age and developmental stage and when cancer comes in, that can often be very disruptive to their education, whether it’s school or university, peer relationships can also be impacted.

She added: “It is very important to raise awareness, as we mark World Cancer Day, in that cancer can affect our young people and that we are here to support them.”