Story of a survivor: Marleen (20) had Hodgkin's, but sailed around the world

Marleen was sixteen when Hodgkin's lymphoma turned her life upside down. After an intensive treatment journey, she is now finished with her treatment. Although the late effects of the disease are still noticeable, Marleen was determined not to let that stop her from pursuing her dreams, such as sailing. Earlier in 2024, she boarded the 'Perseverance', a sailboat that sailed around the world and raised funds for the Princess Máxima Center. Marleen says: 'I want to show the children who are currently in the Máxima that after childhood cancer, there is a whole world waiting for you.'

Back to the fall of 2019

Marleen wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t herself. “I was on a sailing trip with school and noticed that I had less energy than usual. I also started having problems with my eyes; I could see less and less, and sometimes my sight would even completely disappear. I couldn’t make sense of all these symptoms, but cancer was the last thing I thought of.”

Chemo and quarantine

It turned out to be cancer: Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer in the lymphatic system. A six-month intensive treatment journey followed. "In May 2020, I had my last scan, and we thought the cancer was gone. Unfortunately, a few weeks later, I found out it had returned. I ended up back in the Máxima and received chemotherapy, which made me very sick. I was constantly exhausted and tired. I was in the fourth year of high school and really wanted to pass so I could stay with my friends in class. I tried to keep up with the coursework as best as I could, but it just wasn’t working; in the end, I had to repeat the year.”

“What made it harder was that COVID-19 spread quickly during that time. I was vulnerable and not allowed outside. Friends couldn’t visit, and neither could my sisters. They already lived in separate rooms, and it was too dangerous for us to meet in person. So, my sisters quarantined for ten days to ensure we could go on vacation together for a week. That was very special to me.”

Ultimate freedom

Despite the harsh treatments, Marleen emphasizes that there were also beautiful moments. "In the summer period, I received immunotherapy, which made me feel relatively good. That’s when I drew a lot of energy from sailing. I would go to Friesland and step onto the boat. Once a day, I had to get an injection from my parents on land, but aside from that, I felt ultimate freedom on my sailboat, gliding over the Frisian lakes."

After she finally completed her treatment in November, Marleen quickly picked up her life again. "I immediately started playing hockey again. It helped me regain my energy and get back to being myself. It took quite a while; I had lost over 15 kilos and my hair. Slowly but surely, things got a little better each week, until six months later I felt: yes, I’m back. To some extent, anyway, because the disease did leave mental and physical marks. For example, I have a slightly weaker immune system, and I had difficulty concentrating."

Clipper Ocean Race

It didn’t stop Marleen from doing extraordinary things: last spring, a unique sailing trip was on her agenda. "I participated in the Clipper Ocean Race, a sailing race in which eleven sailing ships sail around the world in ten months. The crew members came from different countries and, except for the skipper and the bosun, had no professional sailing experience. For the first time, a boat participated with the logo of the Princess Máxima Center: the Perseverance. The team raised awareness for childhood cancer and raised funds for the Princess Máxima Center."

A sponsor with a deep commitment to the Princess Máxima Center made it possible for survivors of childhood cancer to sail as crew members. "I was one of the eight survivors who sailed a leg of the journey. I had already trained for a month in England, and in April, I boarded the Perseverance in Seattle. We sailed to the Panama Canal, went through it, and then headed north. About a month and a half after departing from Seattle, we arrived in Washington. What an adventure!"

A world full of adventures

"With my story, I want to show fellow patients in the Máxima: there is a world full of adventures waiting for you as soon as this tough period is over. Until then, my advice is: accept all the love and especially all the gifts and chocolate bars you receive from everyone. Draw energy from the things that matter to you and keep faith in the future. My story proves that there will come a time when you can pursue your dreams."