Pleun remembers exactly when it all began. 'It was December 27, 2023. I had been laser gaming with my colleagues—it had been a great night. I was standing in front of the mirror, getting ready for bed, and saw this lump in my neck. I usually don’t go to the doctor very quickly, but this time something told me it wasn’t right.'
Still, it took a while before she got a diagnosis. Her general practitioner initially suspected swollen lymph nodes due to a cold. A few months later, the lump was still there—and now Pleun was also dealing with back pain and fatigue. She was referred for further testing. Pleun recalls: 'The doctor said, ‘There’s a chance it could be lymphoma—but that only happens in about 1 in 10 cases like this.’ My mom tried to reassure me, but I was worried. Someone has to be that one. What if it’s me?'
Bad news
Tests followed, and it turned out Pleun indeed was that one. Her mother suddenly showed up at her internship. 'I knew immediately it was bad news. In the car, she told me it was almost certainly lymphoma. I was nearly 18, but luckily I was still eligible to be treated at the Máxima Center. I was so relieved. I had been following the Máxima Center on Instagram for a long time, so I kind of knew what to expect. It was a huge contrast to the ‘grown-up hospital’ where I’d had my first tests. That place was much more sterile and kind of boring. The Máxima Center actually made me feel cheerful.'
FOMO
'The doctors didn’t beat around the bush—they told me right away what they thought. I was 17, so I understood a lot. Sometimes I was even the one explaining my blood counts to my parents,' she says. Pleun started her treatment, which included four rounds of chemotherapy. Missing out on the things she loved was really hard. 'I had a lot of FOMO—fear of missing out. I always want to be part of everything, like the performances with my music group where I play the drums. Last summer, we had gigs booked abroad, but I couldn’t go because of the treatment. That really hurt. I also had to stop my internship. But the hardest part was seeing the people around me so sad. I stayed strong for them. Luckily, there were some bright spots too—like a close family friend who brought me a fresh stroopwafel from the market every Thursday. She never missed a week.'
After four rounds of chemo, Pleun’s treatment ended in September 2024. A memorable milestone: she could start rebuilding her life and return to the final year of her studies. But she emphasizes that it’s far from over at that point. 'People often think that once treatment ends, you’re back to your old self—but recovery is just beginning. My stamina still isn’t what it used to be. I notice it especially during my internship as a ground stewardess, where I have to stand and walk a lot. Mentally, I still find it difficult to be alone, especially at night. That’s when I start overthinking and getting anxious. I worry something might happen to my loved ones, or that the cancer might come back.'
Short hair
Pleun’s outlook on life has changed since her illness. 'I care less about what others think. Sometimes people look at me strangely because of my short hair, but I’m proud to show what I’ve been through. It can lead to awkward situations though—like the first time I went outside without my wig and someone asked if I’d just had a haircut. They had no idea I’d been sick, which actually made it kind of funny.'
'I also live more in the moment now. Enjoying today—that’s what matters most. Of course, I still make plans, but I know everything can change in an instant.'
For other teens being treated at the Máxima Center, Pleun has some heartfelt advice: 'Put yourself first. You matter. Don’t pretend to be okay just for others. I’m going to talk to someone soon about everything I went through and the fears I still have. Don’t ever feel ashamed about that—it’s completely normal. You’re not alone.'
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