When Velikilic prayed for her mum’s cancer to go away, she couldn’t have imagined that two years later that’s what would happen
When Lydia Velikic would sit by her mum’s side while she was undergoing chemotherapy, she would always pray to god to take her cancer away and give it to her.
Lydia, 26, a primary school teacher in Haringey, North London, was by her mum’s side through her entire treatment. Thankfully, she is now in recovery two years on. However, last month, after going into hospital for a chest scan for a persistent cough she has had for 20 years, doctors discovered growths inside her.
Lydia told MyLondon: “My mum has just recovered from cancer, and I saw how it sucked the life from her. I would be by her side, saying little prayers about ‘how I wish I could take it from her’.
“I went in for my chest to sort this cough out, and then they saw that my sinus gland was enlarged. The doctors performed a PET-CT scan, during which they discovered these growths. They took some of the growths out, did a biopsy, and it came back as Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“If they had never continued investigating this cough, they never would have discovered the cancer. I’m in an early stage, stage two, and with this kind of cancer, it usually gets picked up in stage four. Hearing that I have cancer is obviously not an easy thing to say, but I’m very lucky [it got caught early].”
Lydia is now unable to work as a teacher anymore due to her weakened immune system as a result of chemotherapy. She financially supports her mother and the house they live in, so not being able to work is going to put a strain on her while she should be focusing on her recovery. That is why she set up a GoFundMe.
She added, “My dad passed away when we were very young, so my mum has been my rock through everything, and I started the GoFundMe to actually support her. I’m not going to be working, so I will need money to help us, or what’s going to happen; I’m going to have cancer and be homeless?
“Seeing the donations already has made me so emotional. Going through treatment, you don’t want to think about finances and just want to focus on that. Being able to raise any money will help fund the house, my travel to and from the hospital, and a wig [when I start to lose my hair]. I’ve always lived my life not knowing how I had as much love around me as I do – it’s been a heartwarming experience [seeing the donations].
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that affects the white blood cells that help you fight infections. It can cause painless lumps in your glands. These are usually found in your neck, armpit or the area at the top of your inner thigh (groin).
If caught early, treatment can often eliminate Hodgkin lymphoma. But there is a risk that it might come back after treatment.
Lydia said: “Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most treatable forms of cancer, so I’m lucky that I have this form, which is a strange thing to say. Cancer has been around my family, not just my mum, but also my grandparents. I want people to look out for symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma because people don’t, and by the time they do, it’s usually stage four and too late.
“I hope I can help my mum. Sometimes she will say to me that she would take this cancer away, and I say don’t say that – clearly someone’s listening!”
If you would like to donate to Lydia’s GoFundMe, you can here.
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