Survivors Guilt

I've been contemplating writing this blog ever since I was diagnosed. It's a subject that actually means a lot to me, and it's been playing on my mind for quite some time. Any life threatening situation can have a massive impact on your mental health and it's so important that we talk about that and …

My First PET Scan

After completing six exhausting rounds of chemotherapy - it was time: the moment we have all been waiting for, and the life or death situation. It was calling. My first PET scan was meant to be a few weeks after my last cycle of chemotherapy and my first dose of scanxiety settled in. I didn't …

Chemotherapy: The Finale

My last round, number six, hooray! It came with a mixture of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and relief. Due to work, my mum only managed to come to my very first chemotherapy, so I was relieved she was coming to my last one. She had never been to a normal chemotherapy session, as the first one …

Cancer: A Father’s Perspective

It was a strange and difficult start. I never expected my daughter to be diagnosed with cancer - who does? As the communications between their mother and I are complicated, it was a tedious start to the whole process. Nicole's mum texted me to say that she was worried about Nicole, and that I should …

Life Lessons Cancer Gave

No person should ever have to experience cancer and all of the downs it brings. But with any life experience; there's always something valuable you can learn from it. I definitely wouldn't recommend cancer to anyone... it would get 0 stars on yelp from me, alongside a very negative review - it would probably look …

Chemo Number Five

I can't do this.  I don't want to do this anymore.  Those were the first words that came to my head in the morning. Remember what you're doing this for. The pit in my stomach was nothing like I've ever felt before. After this one, I'll have one more left, I convinced myself.  Just get through this. …

The Times I Thought I Was Going To Die

The title isn't click bait, although I wish it was. But, 1) I wouldn't do that to my readers, and 2) the title is true. Looking back at all my life experiences, especially during the past year - I thought I was going to die twice. I was inspired to write this blog after listening …

Cancer: A Sister’s Perspective

I’ll never forget it… the text I received from my sister on the 15th May 2018: ‘I’m going to the Horton right now, I have an enlarged lymph node in my chest, it could be lymphoma.’ What? How is that possible? She’s 20 years old, she’s too young to get cancer and not my sister… …

Being Told You Have Cancer

It begins with waiting... hoping that it's good news or no news. Staring at the four walls of an empty doctors clinic with chairs circled around a table filled with old magazines. Biting your nails until there's nothing left, and bopping your leg up and down to cure the anxious feeling in your stomach, but …

Chemotherapy: The Fourth

This chemotherapy was a little different. I was no longer having chemotherapy at The Churchill hospital, I have moved to a little chemotherapy centre in my town. They have one haematologist on the ward, so as long as my chemotherapy is on the same day she is in, I can go ahead with it. I …