Ruby Abramow was first diagnosed with a rare head and neck cancer aged nine, before relapsing in 2019, when she was 14. Now 19, she tells us how a new, supportive environment gave her the fresh start she needed to take back control of her disrupted education.
I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014, after my mum brushed my cheek and felt a large lump. Worried, she booked an appointment with the GP, but they weren’t concerned. However, following an appointment at the dentist, I was immediately referred for an ultrasound of my face, which showed a golf ball-sized lump in my left cheek, in my salivary gland.
A biopsy found I had a cancer called acinic cell carcinoma and I was swiftly sent in for surgery, which was successful. I went into remission but, after five years, my cancer returned when I was in year 10 at school. Thanks to the diligence of NHS staff and regular scans we were able to find the tumour in its extremely early stages. Despite this, I was in hospital for a long time as I had to be fed by a tube because of the surgeries I had. Mine and my family’s lives were completely flipped upside down, with me missing out on months of school and my parents having to take a lot of time off work to care for me.
When I was finally able to return to school, COVID-19 hit, and the country went into lockdown. This meant I missed even more of school and though my teachers passed me for my GCSEs, they weren’t what I was hoping for. I’d missed so much content and received little support to help with my needs and catching up.
A fresh start
Before I started sixth form to do my A-levels, I decided to move schools, which turned out to be a great decision. I had a lot of friends there from performing arts, who all said what a great environment it was. My new school was so accommodating, and the teachers were some of the most inspiring women I’ve ever met. I became really close with them, and they couldn’t do enough for me.
They were able to authorise all my doctor’s appointments, and I got lots of additional help when I missed lessons due to appointments or scans. When taking exams, I was allowed to use a laptop and sit them in a quieter room, instead of a big hall, which helped hugely with the anxiety I was feeling.
My new school was so accommodating, and the teachers were some of the most inspiring women I’ve ever met. I became really close with them, and they couldn’t do enough for me.
What else helped me?
For me, another plus was that the new school had better facilities for performing arts, which has been a big part of my life. I first started performing just before my first diagnosis and I only stopped a couple of years ago because I just wanted to focus on my education. I’ve always been very musical and after my second
diagnosis, I think it was very important for me to have an outlet to express myself. I started songwriting, too, and I found all of it really therapeutic.
In academic terms, as well as the support from my teachers, I took it upon myself to get a tutor. I worked hard and was really focused on what I wanted to do. I also took on some leadership opportunities at school, like becoming a prefect, to really boost my personal statement for applying to university. A lot of people start this process when they’re 14 or 15, but this was when I was in hospital. I had a bit to catch up on, so I threw myself into extracurricular activities as well.
*Ruby during A-level celebrations with friends
Why I’m excited for the future
I’m pleased to say that all the hard work paid off. I’m now studying public health at the University of Nottingham and applying to graduate entry medicine next year. My cancer experiences sparked a passion
in me for medicine and my dream is to become a paediatric oncologist, so I can support children and their families in the same way that others did for me.
From Contact magazine issue 103 | Summer 2024
