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'I clapped for carers - and they clapped for me'

Mandy Boxall ringing the bell at the end of her chemotherapy treatment
Mandy Boxall rings the bell at the end of her treatment

Published on 29 May 2020

Mandy Boxall and her family clap for NHS staff and other key workers every Thursday – but the roles were reversed last week.

Staff at the Cathedral Day Unit at Kent and Canterbury Hospital clapped for the mum and grandmother when she rang the bell to signal the end of her chemotherapy treatment.

Mandy, who lives in Herne Bay, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a blood cancer, on 30 January – the same day as the first diagnosed cases of coronavirus in the UK.

She said: “I got to ring the bell when my course of chemotherapy finished. 

“The staff clapped for me and I clapped for them last night. I now have a long wait for scans and other tests, and won’t know how I’ve done until sometime in August.”

Mandy, who worked as a childminder, has observed changes to the way treatments and appointments are run as the virus spread.

But she praised staff for keeping patients safe and for their care.

She said: “As the weeks went on, the hospital visits became more daunting; temperature taken upon arrival, more patients wearing masks, chairs spaced for social distancing in the waiting room, chairs cleaned down when a person vacated the spot. 

“That really rammed home just how scary this whole thing is.

“My chemo took place over a whole day, so I used to sit and see others coming and going. We're all sitting so far apart, that you can't strike up a conversation: just sending each other a nod or reassuring smile across the room.

“You look forward to having your observations done or meds checked as it means you snatch a few moments chatting with a nurse. They are wonderful; remaining so cheerful, even when they're sweltering in their masks and plastic aprons.”

Mandy’s first two rounds were as an inpatient on the haematology ward, and she was able to be accompanied by her husband or close friends.

But the third round took place at the Cathedral Day Unit and she had to attend alone because of the restrictions.

She said: “I felt really anxious going on my own into an unfamiliar part of the hospital and meeting new staff. It was hard on my husband too, who really wanted to be there with me.

“But I felt really safe on the ward and, as always, the staff were supportive and reassured me about any anxieties I had.”

Mandy and her family have had to ‘shield’ because of the risk coronavirus poses to her. This meant for weeks on end they were only allowed fresh air through a window and could not even use their garden.

She said: “I’ve been told throughout my treatment that if I were to come into contact with COVID, I would almost certainly be hospitalised and have a fight on my hands.

“The advice on shielding was relaxed after a while and we can now use part of the garden, as long as it’s two metres from the perimeter.

“Advice from Blood Cancer UK now suggests that shielding is likely to continue beyond 30 June. It takes its toll being at home for that length of time, with no light at the end of the tunnel. 

“Most people have experienced it for a few weeks in lockdown and now have the freedom to go out. Shielding households don’t have that. I can feel the black dog nipping at my heels some days, and have to do my best to distract myself. I can see it taking its toll on my family too.”

She is now hoping to be told later this summer that she is in remission, although her future treatment may be changed because of the virus.

Mandy said: “I know a lot of patients have had their treatment affected one way or another and I know that the specialists are fighting their corner. We have to put our faith in them, that they are making the best decisions on our behalf.”