08/05/2025
"Going through cancer treatment as a single mom was the hardest thing I've ever done," says Catrin, who was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer at just 20 years old - mere months after welcoming her baby boy Benji.
Her story began with a lump under her jaw she'd had for years. "I never thought much about it until after Benji was born, when it grew bigger," she shares. "A friend finally convinced me to get it checked - and thank goodness they did."
The diagnosis came as a complete shock. "I was alone when the doctor said it was cancer. When they asked if I had someone with me, I knew it was serious," Catrin recalls. Faced with tough choices, she opted for radiotherapy to avoid potentially losing part of her jaw later.
Treatment was brutal - the radiation burns made eating painful. "But being a new mom meant I couldn't stop to dwell on it," she says. The hardest part? "Benji had to stay with a foster carer during my hospital stays. As a single mom, I had no other options."
Thankfully, Catrin found incredible support through Jacqui, her Young Lives vs Cancer social worker. "Jacqui arranged childcare so I could recover, helped with finances when I couldn't work, and most importantly - kept me positive when things felt impossible."
Now, Catrin shares her story to help others: "Cancer doesn't care how old you are or what responsibilities you have. But asking for help - that makes all the difference."
