As a 24-year-old getting reading for a night out the energy is high and you are looking forward to the night ahead. But for Sara Titchen, something she noticed as she was prepping for her evening with friends earlier this year changed her life forever.
After noticing one of her eyes was droopy, Sara booked an appointment at the optician's for May 9, 2023. There she was told that her vision was fine but her pupils are different sizes and was referred to a GP.
Concerned about the wait she took herself to Moorfields Eye Hospital that day and after several tests was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Sara told MyLondon: "That morning I found out it was cancer. I went from a 9am opticians appointment to a 1am diagnosis, it was incredibly fast.
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"It was terrifying really because I did not see it coming at all, I was very well. I'd been out that weekend.
"There were no drastic symptoms so it did cause a massive shock. I was terrified because I didn't know anyone else my age who had cancer or anything about lymphoma."
Sara's care started with fertility treatment, something that wasn't on her radar at the time. "All of a sudden having these kinds of conversations abut your future is very overwhelming," she said.
Sara then had 16 rounds of chemotherapy at UCLH and remembers the first time going to collect her medication as an overwhelming experience. She added: "I was on the teenage and young adults ward which was very sad being in an environment seeing other young people with cancer."
Exactly one week after starting chemo Sara's hair started to fall out. "It's something you try to prepare for but nothing can really prepare you for it.
"It's just heart breaking. I think until my hair started falling out and I didn't think I looked like a cancer patient, I was almost pretending everything was OK.
"As soon as your hair falls out it feels very real. It was very emotional. It's the fact you have no choice. It just happens so quickly."
Sara explains that the beginning was the scariest time because of the unknown. "As time goes on, and you do all of these scary things you get a lot stronger and it makes you definitely feel a lot more grateful for what you've got.
After Sara's hair fell out she got a wig from The Little Princess Trust, who provide real hair wigs for young people with cancer. In October she was given the all clear.
Now, she is hosting an event raising money and cutting hair for the charity after they helped her with her journey. The Big Chop takes place at The Depot in Shoreditch on January 6, 2024.
The day will include hair cutting, a DJ, an auction and raffle as well as speeches from the charity about the work they do. Sara said: "It's going to be a positive event bringing people together to potentially discuss something that they've never thought of before.
"It's nice for girls to cut their hair because it's also kind of getting on board emotionally with my journey. The most common age of girls that donate is nine years old.
"Which is incredible, but I think as older girls we should also be setting an example because of course hair is important but it won't be short forever." Tickets are £20 and this includes a free optional haircut if you wish to donate as well as two welcome drinks.
They can be purchased here. Sara has already raised over £7,000 for The Little Princess Trust and further donations can be made here.
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