Cancer Survivors Day - Share your story

Hi Dylan,

Feel free to use anything from my blog if it helps

Life One Year Later- Jane’s story - Macmillan Online Community

Jane

I had my first jaw cancer op and radiotherapy in 2013 and since then had 2 more occurrences one in 2019 when I had another op and more radiotherapy and another in 2022 with another op. Net result is that I have had my upper jaw removed as well as part of my lower jaw. I had reconstruction for my upper jaw in 2023. This has impacted on my ability to eat normal food so now am on puree long term. My advice is to take it one day at a time and it is amazing how with time you adjust to your new normal. I decided that as I was going to be like this for the rest of my life I needed to move on although it took a while to get to that point. I needed to work through the fact that my life had taken a deviation and was not going to be the same again. I decided to start volunteering at my local library and joined an exercise group. This really gave me confidence that I still had something to offer. Then I decided to try out a holiday as I had been too nervous to try one before. Terry my husband and I went on a 3 week trip to Tasmania (I live in Australia) I had to work out how to manage the eating aspect of the holiday so we went self catering. It was a bit of a challenge at lunch eating out when Terry was eating a steak but I found there was lots of soup on the menu and if not I went prepared with my own food. I have found that I have become good at problem solving when I meet  challenges and working out other options so I can still manage the activity whatever it is. I just have to do it slightly differently to others.

I am now 70 and enjoying my life to the max. When you start the cancer journey it looks like you will never move on but there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel and a good life still to be lived.

Lyn

Thank you, Jane.

That is a great idea! We'll definitely link people to your blog next month. Thank you for sharing you experiences in that way. Its so insightful and very helpful for others to read. 

Hi Lyn,

Thank you for taking the time to comment and share some of what you have gone through.

"My advice is to take it one day at a time and it is amazing how with time you adjust to your new normal." This is great advice! I'm sure other members will appreciate reading this.

It sounds like you’ve been through a lot since your first cancer surgery in 2013. It’s wonderful to hear that you are making the most of life and enjoying it to the max.