After I was diagnosed with cancer I suddenly found it everywhere. Prostate cancer postmarks on the letters coming through the door; big banners for the Race for Life at the local supermarket; on the news; neighbours coming out of the woodwork to say that they had been through cancer ten, 20, five years ago. Here are two of my favourites….
Sitting in the hospital the day after a total hysterectomy I was invited by a number of friends to submit my no make up selfie…It didn't seem quite the moment to announce to the world what was going on and the naso gastric tube in the picture was only going to raise questions.
Coming home from hospital three days later, I found waiting in the pile of mail an invitation to attend for a smear test. Of all the weeks in the three year cycle, it had to be this one.
Of course it is good that people are aware of symptoms and it is all part of the movement to get people diagnosed early, but from the perspective of someone newly diagnosed with cancer it can feel a bit much sometimes.
