Hodgkin’s lymphoma: ‘She gave me the courage to go bald’

Even when they’d just met, when they didn’t know each other at all, Molly and Aliona knew they’d found something special. This is the story of their incredible friendship.

UNDER normal circumstances, Molly Dawson and Aliona Grytsenko may never have met, living hundreds of kilometres apart, but out of adversity, a special friendship has been forged.

Both have been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, and have found comfort in shared experiences amid the fear of facing a serious illness at a young age.

When 18-year-old Molly, of Bundaberg, was grappling with the prospect of losing her beautiful long locks during chemotherapy, she met Aliona, who was already “rocking her shaved head”.

That encounter in August gave Molly the confidence to go bald.

DOCTORS FIND ROCKMELON-SIZED TUMOUR

NEW CENTRE TO HELP YOUNG CANCER PATIENTS

Aliona Grytsenko and Molly Dawson, who have both been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“It was very comforting to meet someone like Aliona,” she said. “I was still holding onto my hair. I couldn’t face the idea of getting a shaver and putting it on my head. It was too much.

“Even though it’s just hair, it’s still really hard to lose it. It’s like cancer is taking it from you. It’s not your choice.”

But soon after meeting 22-year-old Brisbane university student Aliona, Molly decided to have her hair shaved off.

“I was like: ‘You know what, screw it, just get rid of it’,” she said.

The young women have also bonded with shared tales of needles and anxiety over regular scans to determine how well their treatment is working.

“Even though we didn’t know each other, we knew each other straight away,” said Molly, who had only just finished high school when she was diagnosed in April.

“It just felt safe.”

Molly and Aliona have both been treated at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where a $2.5 million centre for adolescents and young adults will be opened today by world-class cricketer Steve Smith and Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles.

The You Can Centre, a joint project between the Sony Foundation and the Metro North Hospital and Health Service, will allow young cancer patients to meet away from the stress of the hospital environment, where many patients are more than three times their age.

Aliona Grytsenko and Molly Dawson inside the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital You Can Centre. Picture: Steve Pohlner

RBWH executive director of cancer care services Glen Kennedy said about 130 new cases of cancer in Queensland each year were aged 15 to 25.

“There are unique issues around providing treatment and support for adolescents and young adults,” Associate Professor Kennedy said. “They are at a really vulnerable time of their lives in terms of how they are developing into adulthood, where they’re up to in their educational journey, the development of their friendships, their social networks, their sexuality and so on.

“Being in an environment where they can connect with other individuals of the same age and going through the same life experiences can be really quite stabilising and supportive for them.”

Aliona, who had a stem cell transplant on September 6 after intensive radiation treatment and chemotherapy, said meeting other young cancer patients, such as Molly, during her own illness had been a blessing.

“You see people getting through it and in remission and continuing to live their lives and you get so encouraged by that,” she said.

When she found out Molly was in remission, Aliona said she “cried tears of joy”, revelling in her friend’s good fortune.

“I want for her what I want for me and that is to get to that place,” she said. “It’s such an achievement, a joyous moment.”

Aliona Grytsenko and Molly Dawson. Picture: Steve Pohlner.

Despite their cancer, Aliona and Molly both share a positive outlook on life.

“Going through this illness has made me stop and realise what is important and that is to invest in and help and support other people,” Aliona said.

“I definitely believe that I am fortunate by having all these opportunities to meet new people and build new friendships, friendships that are really deep because they’re based on trials and vulnerability.

“It’s not like: ‘Hey, let’s go shopping’. It’s like: ‘Hey, how are you feeling? How are you going? How is this impacting you’?”

Molly, who dreams of being a police officer, said if she had a message for other people based on her cancer experience it would be for people to remember to be gratitude.

“You never know when your world could be flipped on its head,” she said. “Just take a moment and be grateful for everything you have because it could all change in 10 minutes. You never know.”

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