Meet Vashaa: Lymphoma survivor and Game On Cancer® volunteer

By Sylvia Lee | 20 January 2025

Gaming content creator Vashaa was diagnosed with blood cancer when they were just 21 years old in 2019. Now cancer-free, they volunteered with Cure Cancer’s Game On Cancer® at PAX Australia 2024, Australia’s biggest gaming festival, to help raise funds for cancer research.

Vashaa receiving cancer treatment in hospital. Image: Supplied

Vashaa was overcome with exhaustion at PAX Australia 2018 but chalked it up to their diet and lack of exercise. But no matter what they did, they could not shake off the fatigue, not after hours of sleep, nor after taking time off work.

It was when they developed excruciating chest pain that their partner, Shy, finally convinced them to go to the ER. Doctors ran tests for a blood clot – heart issues ran in Vashaa’s family – and they were sent home in the early morning with a script for codeine. “It’ll be fine,” the doctor had said.  

Except it wasn’t. A week passed and Vashaa was still in pain, struggling to breathe. They saw their GP, who immediately ordered a CT scan, but Vashaa put off the CT scan until the pain became unbearable. The day after the scan, they received an urgent call from their GP: They needed to come in right away.  

Diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma on their 21st birthday

Image: Supplied

In the doctor’s office, Vashaa learnt they had lymphoma. “It was a massive shock for me,” Vashaa said. “I basically could not feel anything emotionally after that. I disassociated for the rest of the day.” 

A week later, Vashaa underwent surgery to remove a lymph node within their left shoulder to determine the subtype of lymphoma – as it turned out, this lymph node had been the source of their chest pain.  

On Vashaa’s 21st birthday, the results came in: Their GP told them they had T-Cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and had a 50% chance of survival. 

With Shy by their side, they were rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital to begin treatment the next day – a round of high intensity chemotherapy tailored for young adults. To be eligible for a life-saving stem cell transplant, Vashaa had to go into total remission. Unfortunately, the first two rounds of chemo were ineffective and at that point, they were running out of treatment options.  

“This was when I hit my darkest period of the year,” they shared. “I was trying to come to terms with the fact there was a good chance I was going to die at the age of 21.” 

“I asked one of the doctors what would happen if I just refused treatment and decided to just try and live my best life for as long as I could, they gave me a maximum of three months.” 

Discharged just before Christmas: Life after lymphoma

Vashaa with their partner, Shy. Image: Supplied

Vashaa had one option left: a gruelling third round of chemo and radiation therapy. They were filled with relief when the tumour finally shrunk, clearing the way for a stem cell transplant, and immense gratitude towards their cousin Tara, their donor. They were discharged from the hospital just in time for Christmas.  

Now, five years later, Vashaa is cancer-free and dedicated to supporting cancer research by getting involved with Cure Cancer's Game On Cancer® initiative, whether through volunteering at PAX Australia 2024 or streaming for Superhero Streamers™.  

“I volunteered for Cure Cancer over PAX because I have seen – and most likely benefited from –  the amazing work that the organisation has done,” they said.  

“It took me until this year to even START properly processing my cancer trauma, and I was only in hospital for one year. If Cure Cancer can help even one person not have to go through the hospital experience for an extended period, then it is worth all the money in the world to that one person. And I am so proud to have been a part of it.”