My brother had it

I wasn’t really around much when Matt was in hospital as my mum and dad wouldn’t let me stay with him. But I would have like to have stayed. I think young people would rather be around people their own age at a time like that.

The second time he was diagnosed I went to see him at hospital. I was a bit shocked as I didn’t really know what it was like there, but the nurses and doctors were really friendly.

The nurses asked me how I felt and what I knew about cancer. I didn’t know much, so they told me lots and didn’t use complicated words.

At hospital there was a little room where you could sit and chat to nurses, so I went there sometimes. I had a good feeling about the hospital and I knew my brother was in good hands.

I sometimes didn’t want to show what I felt to my parents, because I’d feel like I’d make them upset. When Matt was poorly, I felt neglected, because he would get presents as well as all the attention and I wouldn’t get anything.

I felt angry but I didn’t feel bad about being angry, because this was the way I felt.

Matt had to have checkups every 6 months and he went for his last check up a couple of weeks ago. He got the ‘all-clear’, so the cancer has gone.