March 2012, Sarah Dransfield was just 16 when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Sarah underwent chemotherapy, but doctors revealed that the treatment hadn’t worked and that she would need to have her right leg amputated. Sarah has been in remission since 2013 and has kindly volunteered her time to review Abbie has osteosarcoma a new information resource for children covering every aspect of an osteosarcoma diagnosis.
Why did you want to be involved in reviewing Abbie has osteosarcoma?
I wanted to be involved in reviewing Abbie has osteosarcoma because having had osteosarcoma myself I know how much a fantastic book like this would have helped me when I was first diagnosed!
Why do you think it’s important for children and their families to have access to reliable information such as Abbie has osteosarcoma?
It is very important that children and families have access to reliable information such as Abbie has osteosarcoma because people are quick to research things online these days and the facts people read online may not necessarily be true and may worry children and parents.
Being able to read a book and be reassured by the information in Abbie has osteosarcoma is invaluable! Having everything explained in the book lets the children and families know what is to come meaning the future is less daunting for them at such a difficult time.
As an osteosarcoma patient how do you think Abbie has osteosarcoma will help children and young teenagers that will be going through as similar journey to what you had?
Having been an osteosarcoma patient myself I think that Abbie has osteosarcoma will help children and young teenagers going through a similar journey that I did in countless different ways. To begin with how the book explains what osteosarcoma is will help the young people understand what tumour they have. osteosarcoma is such a big word for anyone let alone a young person so putting it into their terms will help them to understand it.
One of the main reasons that I think the book would massively have helped me would be the way it explains to the young people how their whole journey will map out ahead of them. Starting with biopsies etc going onto treatment surgery and back to having treatment again.
I think the book will also help the young people to speak out and talk to their families and professionals. By having sections in the book that they can write in will help them remember questions to ask and write down any worries they have.
I also like the way the book speaks about other young people with similar bone tumours or who have had different operations. Meaning that Abbie isn't the only one and that gives hope to the young people that they will make friends in a similar position to them and that they aren't they only ones going through it!