Today marks one year since the 8 minute phone call telling me my MRI had shown malignant lumps in my neck. Then followed the round of biopsies, scans and appointments with tonsil cancer confirmed, again by phone at 4.30 on Christmas Eve. This year (Covid allowing) I'm hoping to be at the candlelit family Carol service at that time with hubbie, stepdaughter and granddaughter- they've been my determination to fight this.
The year has thrown some of the toughest challenges our way, the only year to compete with it was when my mum died of breast cancer when I was 10. Again, more inspiration to fight it, hence the name of my blog - Not This Time. Link in bio.
But, treatment completed April, in Remission since August. I'm back at work. Had my 5th check up this week and so far, so good. Eating is still a frustration, I know I am lucky that swallowing is fine, it's the dryness and texture and I still struggle with acidic or spicy food and alcohol is just not do-able. In the grand scheme of things that's insignificant though. I am still here and living my life. One of the best gifts from this experience is a new perspective, things that would have troubled me in the past wash off. I no longer apologise for prioritising myself. It's pretty liberating.
Thank you all on here for your support, it has been so valuable. I just hope I manage to pay back over time. I will get round to adding my blog to my signature, and editing it. Rambling as I wrote it helped me process the whole experience, time now to make it useful.
It's probably time I unmasked myself, Ronnie is actually the name I gave my RT mask. Signing off my messages as Ronnie became a habit, kind of meant she had the cancer not me.
No matter where you are in this journey, I send you all my thanks and best wishes.
Take care all, Gill {Ronnie) x
An auspicious day for you Gill! Your updates and comments have been inspiring over the past year and your blog is an excellent read. Here’s to a much happier and more relaxing Christmas 
(non-alcoholic of course!)
Well done Gill and nice to meet you
That's a good idea about the blog, an even better place for it is in your profile, just as Mark has done. I signpost lots of people there and I can add yours too. You can understand how much it helps those just starting out.
Have a great Christmas
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Lovely post Gill, I wasn't around much when you signed up here because of "stuff" happening in my life plus getting through my second brush with cancer, but great (as always) to read that the lovely folk on here helped you through.
Lovely name too, my mum was a Gill x
Metastatic SCC diagnosed 8th October 2013. Modified radical neck dissection November, thirty-five radiotherapy fractions with 2xCisplatin chemo Jan/Feb 2014. Recurrence on larynx diagnosed July 2020 so salvage laryngectomy in September 2020.
