{"id":6628,"date":"2021-05-11T11:49:54","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T09:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/untire.app\/experiences\/jelle\/"},"modified":"2024-05-06T11:08:12","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T09:08:12","slug":"jelle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/untire.app\/en-gb\/experiences\/jelle\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m very happy with how I\u2019m doing right now\u2019 – Jelle"},"content":{"rendered":"
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His GP thought it was a hernia. After two weeks of bed rest, he was still suffering and was sent to hospital for a scan. It turned out he had a very rare brain tumour. \u2018But it was in my lower back. It is a kind of tumour that you are born with or you can get at a very young age. It sinks down into your back very gradually.\u2019[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row padding_top_multiplier=”2x”][vc_column width=”1\/5″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/5″]
Jelle still embraced life as much as possible. \u2018I started studying through a customised programme and I was allocated a room at the university of applied sciences where I could rest in between classes.\u2019<\/p>\n
However, five years ago, Jelle developed strange symptoms that got progressively worse. \u2018At one point, my arm completely swelled up. For a while I thought it was caused by exercise, but it turned out to be thrombosis in my shoulder.\u2019<\/p>\n
Alarmed by the location of the swelling, a neurologist decided to investigate. He discovered a lymphoma in Jelle’s chest. Shortly afterwards, he received the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. \u2018It was a huge shock,\u2019 he says, continuing dryly: \u2018Shortly afterwards, I was also told I have a hereditary breast cancer gene. It is obvious that there\u2019s something wrong with my body, but all these things were actually separate issues.\u2019[\/vc_column_text]
\u2018At the hospital you are told about cancer-related fatigue. But you have no idea how bad it will get,\u2019 he says. \u2018Right after the chemo, I was extremely tired. I had to drag myself outside \u2013 even for a short walk. Or, when things were going well, the fatigue would suddenly hit me and I would have to stop what I was doing. I had to lie down straight away.\u2019<\/p>\n
One day, he happened to walk past the Untire office. \u2018It was near my house. It immediately caught my attention.\u2019 Soon enough, he started using the app all the time. \u2018At the beginning, the app definitely helped with recognising and acknowledging my problems,\u2019 he says. \u2018And I discovered that I wasn\u2019t alone in how I was feeling.\u2019[\/vc_column_text]
By now, Jelle was fed up with sitting around at home. He took the plunge and arranged a work experience position with Untire. \u2018That also helped me a huge amount. If there’s one place where people understand what cancer fatigue is like, it’s there. It means that I can go home for a rest at lunchtime.\u2019<\/p>\n
Jelle has now learned to accept that his back problems are not going to go away. \u2018But my fatigue is better. Thanks to Untire, I\u2019m dealing with it much better now. I’m very happy with how things are going.\u2019[\/vc_column_text]