I had cancer as a teenager, now I'm on stage at The Royal Albert Hall
A young Blackpool man who battled cancer has shared his emotional experience of stepping onto the stage at the Royal Albert Hall just months after receiving the all-clear.
Freddie Ankers, a 22-year-old from Blackpool who was diagnosed with cancer at the height of his early adult life has described an unforgettable moment standing on stage at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
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Freddie Ankers was was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in July 2025, following months of unexplained illness that left him exhausted and struggling to carry on with daily life.
Having completed a degree in Sports and Exercise Science, Freddie had been working as a chef and saving to travel when his health began to decline.
Despite repeated attempts, he initially struggled to secure a GP appointment around his working hours. It was only after discovering a lump on his neck and attending a walk-in centre that he was fast-tracked for urgent tests at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Freddie said: “I’ve never been an ill person and had never taken a sick day before. I did split shifts as a chef and I’d normally go running or to the gym, but I was finding that I needed to sleep two to three hours in my break every day. That was completely out of character as I didn’t usually nap.
“I was sweating a lot more than usual too, both during the day and night, was getting chest and ear infections and I was feeling dehydrated and going to the toilet more than usual.
Scans later confirmed the cancer had not spread and after chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Freddie was given the all-clear.
He said: “I was shocked. I’d climbed Snowdon two weeks before and had never felt really poorly, just not myself, so I didn’t think it was going to be something as big as cancer.”
Just months on, he found himself at one of the UK’s most iconic venues, attending a special concert event at the Royal Albert Hall. As part of the experience, he watched band Elbow from premium seats, toured backstage areas and even stepped onto the stage.
During the show, Freddie joined other young people on stage to take a selfie with the 5,000 - strong crowd, who lit up the venue with their phone torches in a powerful show of support.
Freddie said: “We went on stage and it was surreal. Seeing everyone lighting up their phones for us was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It’s such a beautiful building and we had amazing seats.”