A YOUNG woman who battled cancer during the pandemic has thanked nursing staff for ensuring she was "never alone" as she underwent treatment in hospital.
Beth Clyde said Queen Elizabeth University Hospital staff became family to her as she coped with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Not only did the the-21-year-old have to deal with a gruelling chemo regime, she also completed her final university project - and gained an A.
Beth said: “It was a scary time for everyone but I found myself in the Queen Elizabeth with no family or friends due to covid restrictions.
"The nurses were just incredible.
"They would find the time to come and chat to me, getting to know me and all about my family.
"My mum dropped off lots of pictures so I would spend time with the nurses, telling them all about my life and showing them my family.
"It was a home from home for me.
"I was super young and in for three and a half weeks but never alone.
"I think they would have been great at any time, but were maybe just a bit extra special then when they knew patients had no visiting friends and family."
Two years ago Beth was undergoing tests with her GP after developing a cough, losing weight and feeling exhausted.
Those tests led to her being admitted to ward 4C in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital just days before the national lockdown in March 2020.
On March 16 she was told she had stage 2b Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and would need to start chemotherapy immediately.
She said: "It was 10 days from coming in to getting my first chemo session.
"I was scared but just wanted to get on with it; to start to feel better.
"I was up for it, motivated and thought let’s just do this.”
Not only did Beth undergo a gruelling chemo regime, she also finished her Honour’s project from her hospital bed to complete her Zoology degree – and got an A.
Beth is now in remission and doing what lots of other 23-year-old women do.
Beth said: “I’m like Rapunzel right now.
"As a woman, losing my hair was a really big deal, maybe one of the worst bits actually.
"I didn’t want to ‘look’ ill, I didn’t want people to pity me; I knew I was getting better all the time.
"I am back at the gym, back at work and seeing friends and family.
"I’m hoping to have a holiday this year and just feeling very, very grateful. I get regular checks at the Beatson, every four months and these really re-assure me. I’m in a good place."
Beth was cared for by the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Team at the Beatson Cancer Centre.
Julie Cain, Teenage Cancer Trust Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “It’s always lovely to get positive feedback from our patients.
"It was particularly difficult time for all of our patients when visiting was limited and we were only too delighted to fill the void by spending as much time as we could with them and also facilitating ‘virtual’ visiting for some."
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