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.
This week, we’re sharing Shaun’s journey with cancer, in his own words. You can also read his wife Janet’s story on Community news here.
In November 2019, I had two of my upper teeth taken out at my dentist.
In the following days I noticed a swelling in my neck so I went to the doctors where I was given antibiotics.
After a week of these there was no difference so I was given another course.
A week later I went to the doctors who sent me straight to A&E.
At A&E, I was given an...
So it’s been just over a week since my surgery. It’s been a tough one for me, I’m not good at just sitting around doing nothing. I have had good days and bad days. Today is a good day. Tuesday was a bad day. I had to buried my best friend my mum. Then I collapsed on the stairs and had to carry back to bed in so much pain, then was bed bound for 2 days. Feeling a more energised today.. and then I got the great news is I got the all clear today, there is no other tumours and the cancer had not spread...
4th month of chemo and managed to get through it mostly ok. No sickness or even nausea this time and still managed to eat fine but it did wipe me out and the last few days and good couple days afterwards felt like I hadn’t slept! I suppose it could be a lot worse though so I should grateful for that at least. One other thing that I’ve noticed is that get terrible constipation while taking the tablets, not sure if that’s a result of the tablets themselves or just a general not moving around as much...
With the Covid19 positive test, the preparations for chemotherapy could be hindered, Dal had to have another Corona-virus test, He was registered with one of the London Cancer Hospitals and thankfully they were prepared to meet him immediately, an appointment was made for the following day May 14th - in an isolated room Dal was met by his specialist team, he had to sign all the consent forms, after having a further explanation of what was going to happen, He had bloods taken and his 2nd Covid test...
What a week! waiting for today to come 12th May 2020, watching the clock, counting down the hours. Dal had been told last week on discharge to call the hospital or the Clinical nurse at lunch time if he had not been contacted regarding the results.
We have four daughters, one lives with us with her partner and their two children, the other three live very close and have family of their own, in all we are the proud grandparents to eight grand-kids Dal's Mum and Brother live in our street... we are...
Nil by mouth throughout the night, and during the morning, Dal was taken for an endoscopy early afternoon, he was offered a throat spray or a sedative, he chose the sedative due the continued pain he was experiencing. The sedative was administered through the cannular which had been placed in his arm the day before, after which they placed a tube down his throat with a small camera on it. He found this the most uncomfortable of all his experiences, even with the sedative it was extremely painful...
Dal had a procedure at the end of February which involved a great deal of pressure on his stomach and for about a week afterwards he was obviously very sore and uncomfortable. By mid March he started to feel uncomfortable eating and by Easter he had only managed to eat one full meal a week. He contacted the GP, as Covid19 demanded that only telephone consultations took place, and a change in medication was suggested, this was on trial for two weeks and the GP was called again. This time the GP changed...
During this time of uncertainty many of us have turned to cooking as a way of keeping us busy and relieving stress. We are pleased therefore, to bring you Debbie’s delicious cheesy leeks recipe today.
Debbie is our wonderful ‘chef to Ostomates’ and all of her recipes are, of course, designed with Ostomates in mind. In case you’ve missed any of her recipes to date, you can find them all in our Ileostomy, colostomy and stoma support group here. So why not put an apron on and get...
Today I would like to share some thoughts I had back on the evening of Paul's death when I was allowed to return to the room where the nurses had washed Paul, had put a white sheet over him, had put a small bunch of flowers between his hands that were now folded over his chest and had lit a vanilla scented candle on the table beside his bed.
The room felt so peaceful.
This was the room in which, less than one hour before, Paul had taken his last breath.
I wanted to sit down beside him and just...
We Remember Them (by Rabbi Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer)
At the rising of the sun and at its going down
We remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter
We remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring
We remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer
We remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn
We remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends
We remember them.
As long as...
