Blogging can be a great way to journal your experiences and share with others. Why not create your own cancer journey blog, or have a read of other blogs created by our members?
Unsure how to get started? Take a look at our help pages on blogs.
It's hard to write a post when friends here have felt so much pain and heartache.
I'd like to share this update to add some positive to the cancer experience.
Husband had his lower anterior resection with a loop ileostomy last Thursday. Procedure had us on ward for 6.30 in the morning. Op not scheduled till pm. One colonic irrigation later and I was kicked out just after nine. I'd given myself a bunch of chores to fill time with.
Late afternoon call to hospital had no news so scooted...
I’ve been busy downloading music today. I usually wait until the site I use has an offer on and today was the day.
The first two albums in the basket were 60s albums that I was very keen to have. “The Deram Anthology” by Timebox and “1st Floor” by The Floor. I hadn’t heard either of these albums in years. I expect a few people may have heard of Timebox. Their hit “Beggin’” still gets played on the radio quite often. However I’ll be surprised...
The days are getting closer now to D day or should i say C day. My final preassessment has been done and only one full week left Monday will be occupied with the picc line insertion and Friday next the dry run.
i somehow in a warped way find it exciting .I probably wont be saying that further down the line.but i find everyone so helpful and friendly , which is re assuring
Hi
Mum had her appointment with the consultant on Monday, they are sending her for some scans and blood tests to see if she is able to go onto taking Pazopanib (Votrient ®).
Given us lots of information on it but obviously still not sure what to expect but hopefully she is able to go onto something that could possibly prolong her time with us... has anybody had any experiences of this type of treatment, anything that will help us know what we could expect etc?
Thank you in advance for your...
I am now talking with greater ease and although I still have a lot of pain if I speak for a long time I can at least string a few words together. There has been much improvement in this area over the last week.
Yesterday I had my latest consultation at the Hospital. Having not eaten anything via my mouth for well over a month I was a bit apprehensive because I knew they were going to test my ability to swallow something more solid than water. This has been a bit of a hit and miss affair for me but...
Latest update is very much more of the same. I have recovered from the drama of last week and I feel that I am slowly but surely making progress.
For the last three days I have swallowed some small mouthfuls of water –this may sound minor but for me it was a huge thing to do. There was a bit of pain along with some coughing and spluttering but it's a good start. I had swallowed nothing for several weeks and this is a small step on the way to getting back to normal. The plan is to continue to increase...
This has been a difficult week and I would describe the progress as two steps forward and one step back.....
Early in the week things were going fine. I was continuing to talk for a few minutes each day and managing the accompanying pain with morphine. I have managed to get my weight up to above 11 stone and was hoping to get a few more pounds on by the end of the week. I did my first exercise session on my cycling machine for several weeks – it was only 15 minutes at a very low resistance setting...
Things are unfolding pretty much as predicted in that some of the side-effects have worsened slightly but things are generally pretty stable.
There is good news in that one or two of the problems have eased – my neck is no longer peeling skin and there is just a slight redness that is reducing each day. I now no longer draw stares in Waitrose (or maybe they've just got used to me)!
The fatigue is still with me (sleeping about 12-14 hours a day) and I'm nowhere near being able to eat...
My radiotherapy treatment ended on Wednesday with my 30thsession and I can tell you that it feels really good not to have to travel the 40 odd miles for my daily zap. The people there tell me that the side-effects will continue for the next couple of weeks and then should slowly subside. Some of them may linger for a month or two but most should disappear completely in time. My next appointment is in two weeks and I'm hoping that I am speaking again by then. Then they will probably decide whether...
As of last Friday evening I have been unable to talk at all. This is due to damage to my throat caused by the radiotherapy. I am in pain for pretty much all of the time –I have upped the morphine dosage but even this is struggling to cope now. I am now officially no food, liquid or communication by mouth!
I only have 7 radiotherapy sessions and 1 chemotherapy to go.
My understanding is that they will assign a speech and language therapist to me once my treatment ceases and I begin the recovery...
Whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you.
We’re here to provide physical, financial and emotional support.
© Macmillan Cancer Support 2026 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007