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.
I had an appointment in the ENT Dept after my tonsillectomy wound had healed a bit, and had to go in to get the results of histology from the removed tonsil. Feeling a bit nervous I was a little shocked to see the Oncologist sitting in ENT. Not a good sign really is it, along with a gaggle of support staff (Trials people, Clinical Nurse Specialists, etc) . Dr D. fairly quickly and efficiently gave me the bad news- it was cancer in the tonsil - of the HPV16 type.
Discussion swiftly moved onto treatment...
We wanted to take some time today to really focus on thanking each and every one of you for the support that you all give on the Community. Below are a few of many examples of the ways that members of the Community provide truly wonderful support to each other every single day in what may be an incredibly difficult time. Why not take a look through?
'You have found this amazing support group and there is always someone here to answer your questions no matter how trivial you may think it is. ...someone...
October seems to have flown by in a flurry of multi-coloured leaves and soggy misty mornings. Here’s our ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ summary to ease us into the beginning of November. So put your feet up and have a scroll through some wonderful wellbeing tips from the Community.
"...if the event is in our control we can do it, and if it’s not in our control we can decide how we respond to it.’
‘The old adage “Life is what you make it” really is very true, because even...
This week (26th October – 2nd November) marks International Brain Tumour Awareness Week. To highlight this in today’s Community News Blog Laura is sharing her story about how she coped when she faced a brain tumour diagnosis in 2016. Laura has also been helping support people by sharing her experience of diagnosis on the Brain Tumour Research website. Brain Tumour Research is a national charity which is dedicated to raising funds for scientific research into brain tumours. You can fi...
In this blog post, I am going to share a number of reflections on my grieving process with you.
1. Anticipatory grief.
Shortly after Paul's death, people would say to me that I was now in the early stages of my bereavement. And I realised that that wasn't true. I had been grieving for Paul since the moment we got the diagnosis of liver secondaries.
This phenomenon is called "anticipatory grief".
I cried on the evening of the day we learned about Paul's liver secondaries. I couldn...
'The emotional journey of coming to a decision to undergo risk-reducing surgery.'
By Clarissa.
As many of you may be aware October marks Breast cancer awareness month. This is a month of raising awareness and funds for a variety of breast cancer charities that provide lifesaving research and support to people affected by breast cancer. As the month draws to a close, we are pleased to have as a guest blogger in today's Community news, Clarissa, author of ‘Understanding BRCA.’ Clarissa...
In my previous blog posts, I have told you about the time when my man was sick, our journey through this very difficult time and the end of his life. In this blog post, I would like to tell you what I feel I have learned from the time when I cared for him. My hope is that some of the things I am going to write will help some of you who are still in the role of a carer and make some things a little easier for you. But, before I tell you what I have learned, I want to emphasise that I am not medically...
We are back today with the third and final part of Greg’s series ‘Unseeing the Bus’. Greg has written this 3 part series for the Community News Blog to share his experience of depression after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Greg writes honestly and openly about how he felt during this time. Missed the last two posts in the series? Why not catch up on part one and two now?
Unseeing the bus: #3
For part 3, I was going to write, “what bus?” and leave it at that.
It might...
Today on the Community News Blog we are shining a light on all things creative from every corner of the Community. It doesn’t take long when looking through the community to stumble upon something creative, from knitted toys to poetry there are so many ways that members express themselves. Why not take a look through?
Creative Arts & Crafts
In the ‘Breast Cancer’ group posted pictures of some wonderful knitted toys she’s made in the 'Crafts and BC' thread.
Sticking...
So, I've been thinking back over the last 8 months of 2019 and needed to jot some of my thoughts down before I forget what happened!
Here are some more top tips that have really helped me through chemotherapy over the last 4 and a half months.
1. MOUTH - I stopped using conventional toothpastes very early on, several weeks before I started chemotherapy. The first 3 courses of FEC and I developed a few ulcers on my tongue for a week or so after chemo.
I did try a little ordinary toothpaste I had...
