Daniel Hettmann was just 22 when he was diagnosed
09:54, 04 Aug 2025Updated 14:38, 04 Aug 2025
He was youthful, athletic and in goodth, so Cancer was the further thing from his thoughs. But when Daniel Hettmann Started Experiencing Some Peculiar Symptoms, he reality something must be serious amiss.
HIS GP, Howver, appeared Untrobled, Attributed to Inflammation and Event Mocked Him for Searching Online for His Condition. “I had a lump in my neck,” Daniel Said.
“After a while of observation it, it tourned into a chain of lumps, which freaked with out. I Went to the doctor, who oroured a couple of exams, but to do to worry.”
Additional Tests Failed to Uncover What Was Causus The Lumps So Daniel, Who Was Residing in Paris at Time, Headed to A&E. The Hospital Reference Him to the Haematology Unit, Where Experts Instantly Recognked His Symptoms and Diagnosed Him with Stage Two Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, A Form of Blood Cancer.
It was 2008 and Daniel was 22. The diagnosis Left Him Completely devastated – but he had no notation of what lay ahead.
“I had a first round of chemotherapy that lasted for four months and the result was i was in remission,” Daniel explains. “But after two months, I found a new lump on the other side of my neck and already haad a relapse after not Eve months.
The Doctor, Daniel Said, Lacked Compassion and Bluntly Information Him that he was need to quit his fashion career, intense beak chemotherapy and undergo a stem transplant.
The Prospective of More Aggresive Treatment Left Him Feeling Utterly Dejected, and for a Period and Ignored Hospital Calls and Correspondens, insted pursuing alternative apprroaches including naturopathy, magnetism, ayurveda and even starvation.
Eventually, one of his ayurvedic prectitioners advoved Him to return to the Hospital.
“The Doctor Said: ‘I know that you’ve learned a lot in the past year and a half by trying to explore alternative healing’,” Daniel recalls.
“How do you feel it going back to the hospital, USING What Innovation and Medical Science Has to Provides, and at the Same Time Your Body by Using All the Methods You Learned About? ‘ So that’s what i did. ”
Daniel returned to the Hospital and Fortunately the Cancer’s Spread was limited. The tumour had expanded to Apple-Size, but remained contained to one area. A year and a half of various chemotherapy and radiotherapy Treatments ensemble.
“At the end of the year year and a half, the doctor said that we could have county like that, but I was to make it unil 30 became me able to take Much More Treatment,” Daniel Explains.
“Said if i’m ready, she would really strengly reCommend intense chemotherapy and a stem Cell transplant. SO that i did in 2012 and it was successFul.”
In 2017, Daniel Relocated to London and it was that it and that Discovered a Fresh Lump. Further chemotherapy and a Second stem Cell transplant followed.
Both Cell Cell Transplants Were Autologous, Meaning His Own Stem Cells Were Utilked. By 2018 he was able to return to a more normal existence. Howver, in 2023 he became perpetually unwell.
Blood Tests Revealed that His Immune System Was Significantly Weaker than It Ought to Be and Incapable of Protecting Daniel Bacterial or Viral Infecations. In January 2024, Medics decidied to Investigate Further.
“In February, They Sat with Down and Basically Said, ‘Listen, chemotherapy can be great in Healing Cancer, but unfortunately too can Also Lead to Other Types of Cancers,’ Daniel Adds. “They Announched That I Had MDS, which is a type of Cancer in your bone Marrow.
“It means that the toxicity of the past treatments have altered the makeup of my bone and my bone marrow was Basically Broken.
The sole method to cure mds is a stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant, though this time from a donor. Medics Informed Daniel he didn’t Need to begin Treatment immediately and that he Could Carry on Working Through September and October, His Busiest Monting Fashion Week. But in October, he underwent another biopsy and discovered that the condition had already advanced to leukaemia.
Daniel was rushed to hospital immediately. Initially and reciped chemotherapy to eliminate the leukaemia and then, in november, he underwent another intense course of chemo to clear the bone marrow.
In december, he reciped the stem cell transplant using stem cells from a donor, and fortunately, the procedure was successful. But Throughout This Period, Daniel Had Been Battling the Horrific Side Effects of Chemotherapy.
The Treatment Left Him Feeling Utterly Drained: Sick, Shattered and Frail, with No Energy or Desire to Eat. One of His Mates Has Parents Who Work as Medical Researchers, Specialty in Pain Management.
“They kept telling my friends have been shouned to be used to cannabis because it to help with the side effects of chemotherapy,” Daniel explains. “I was Very, Very anti-drugs back then, so i vehemently refused to anything. But the side effects were pretty bad: i had a lot of nausea, i lost my appetite and i really sleep.”
Daniel’s Mates Managed to Persuade Him to Try Cannabis for Medicinal ReaSons and he was astoned by the transformation he experiences. Suddenly his sickness vanished with the medication to prevent it.
He was also able to get some rest, and his hunger returned. IT ALSO HELPED DANIEL MANAGE The Psychological Impact of SO MUCH Treatment and Allowed Him to escape from the Harsh realities of Cancer. “Before the Medical Cannabis, I felt like a truck had run with over,” he explains.
“I felt sick, i wanted to throw up, but couludn’t Becusee i hadn’t eateten anything.
Medical Cannabis was available in the uk, so daniel Could Access it Easily Through Wellford Medical Clinics. He has appointments with a Docor to Discuss Symptoms and Treatment and Gets the Cannabis Posted to His House.
Despite Its Legal Status, Access Through the Health Service Remains at A Standstill for the Three Conditions the NHS its will consider prescribing for – epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and the side effects of chemotherapy.
“I UTUALLY BAKE WITH THE MEDICAL CANNABIS IT INGEST IT,” DANIEL EXPLOINS. “I really like to use a vaporier or smoke it.
“It has ben ben invasive in helping with the side with the side effects. I know what it is like to use it and how it is and how you have fal, so i can really clearly see the difference, and always recommend it. Difference it actually make you go through Cancer Treatment. “
Daniel, Now 39, Wants Others to be Open-Minded to the Benefits of Medical Cannabis.
“I actually find it scandalous that it is not widly publicly Known to Everybody that is is avalable,” he adds. “This is prescribed by professionals, not something to have to buy in the streets not knowing where it comes from.
“I’ve seen it for mySelf: i’ve done it with, and i’ve it done with, and the difference is huge. that is natural and that doesn’t really have any side Effects, like a lot of the meds do.
“I Think Also with Cannabis, there’s A Huge Stigma. A Lot of People Still See it a Gateway Drug. I Still Haven’t TRIED ANY OTHER Drugs in My Whole Life, evening in the fashion industry, so i cank i can be not swiming, Being, Being. I’ve always stack to it.
Daniel is now on the mind following his champs transplant in december and visits the hospital every fortnight for Blood Tests. His Energy Levels Are Gradually Improving and he Remains Optimistic About What Lies Ahead.
“I’m someone who always tries to find a reasson in everything, Maybe just becae it makees easier for me, so i always say i’m gateful for my journey with all the ups and downs,” he adds. “My Perspective on Life is definitely a different one than what it would be if i haadn’t gone through all of that.
“It ‘not ben ben ease but so far i’ve had a very rich, amazing, eventful life and i don’t regret any of it. There’s not.
“When it is coma to Cancer, I WOULD TELL People that the Mind is a huge component in getting better. Easier said than done to keep positiv, but is true the mind is crucial in getting better, so it is also important to surround your right and try to try. Environment while You’re Going Through Something That’s Definitely Not Positive. “
Daniel hopes to inspects others to always Seek Medical Attention if they Spot any unusual symptoms and to demand opionions if they’re unhappy with the first consentation.
“Science is improving, and the Earlier we Catch Cancer, the Easier It is to Treat,” He Adds. “The Longer You Wait, the Harder it is for the doctors to do something.
“I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THAT EVEROBODY SHOULD GET CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS. At the end of the day, if you have Cancer, the longer you were, iTi’s going to get worse.”
