Wolverhampton woman publishes children’s book following lymphoma treatment
A woman from Wolverhampton has written a children’s book with her family to support families navigating a cancer diagnosis. Shannon Frost, along with her dad Steve Blanks, Aunt Anna Blanks de Velazquez and cousin Jess Blanks de Velazquez were keen to develop a book that explores the concept of hair loss due to cancer treatment. Their hope is that it will help other parents explain to their children how a loved one may look different when going through cancer treatment.
Titled My Mum’s a Chameleon, the book draws on Shannon’s own experience as a young mum who lost her hair through receiving chemotherapy for lymphoma. £5 from every copy sold will be donated to Lymphoma Action, the only charity in the UK dedicated to this type of blood cancer. Now in remission, Shannon is also keen on raising awareness about lymphoma more widely, particularly amongst younger people.
“I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the summer of 2024, shortly after my wedding” says Shannon, 30. “I went on to receive six rounds of chemotherapy, with hair loss being one of the main side effects from the treatment. I wasn’t really bothered by it, but my four-year-old daughter didn’t like my bald head. That was the hardest part for her, so I decided to get a wig. I went into town and got a variety of styles and colours and once my daughter got used to the idea, she started to tell her friends and they all loved the bright red one as I looked like The Little Mermaid! That’s when the idea for the book was born, as an expression of love and support shaped by our family.”
“Given that lymphoma is common in younger adults, there will be many people with children who are trying to find ways to help their little ones understand what it all means” she continues. “It is also important that people are aware of the condition, as it wasn’t until further into my treatment that I learned that lymphoma is actually a type of blood cancer. I decided to share my diagnosis on social media, and after hearing my story, people were contacting me to say they were getting themselves checked as they were concerned about symptoms they were experiencing. They hadn’t heard of lymphoma either, despite it being the UK’s fifth most common cancer.”
“We are so grateful to Shannon and her family for their support, and for raising awareness about lymphoma” says Hannah Leigh, Community Fundraiser at Lymphoma Action. “Every 26 minutes someone is diagnosed with lymphoma in the UK, making it the most common type of blood cancer. Thanks to people like Shannon and her family, we can continue to provide vital information and support to make sure no one has to face lymphoma alone.”
My Mum’s a Chameleon is now available to purchase at mymumsachameleon.org/
For further information about lymphoma, please visit lymphoma-action.org.uk
