Diary of a Survivor

I’m dancing around!

Our village postman called up the stairs this morning to tell me he had an "interesting looking parcel for you". And I was really touched when I opened it, because it was a lovely box of goodies from Lush. Divine smelling bottles of Shower Gel, an interesting lip...

Being insulted as a cancer patient

As if we didn't have enough to put up with, NCRI (Nat. Cancer Research Institute) are still calling us 'consumers'.  This gets my blood boiling.  Yes, I have cancer, but at NO time did I ever pick it or choose to get it. As far as I am concerned a 'consumer' is...

Bleak Outlook for cancer survivors

I sometimes think survivors are mad!   We readily help out with volunteer work and contribute hours to helping prevent others getting cancer,  yet when I ask Cancer Research UK how much of their £600 million+  turnover last year went to help survivors, I was told...

Angry bricks go flying

It's time we got fighting boots on and campaigned for better care.  Dept. Health seems to have forgotten cancer, and last week two consultants told me services they can offer have been cut. One greeted me "I've been told I can't look after you any more". Reassuringly,...

Biter bit

Former Conservative health secretary Andrew Lansley has bowel cancer, and called on the government to improve the NHS’s current screening programme for the disease.  Funny, I remember the last time I had a conversation with the Minister, I asked him why it was the NHS...

Naked protests

MPs are warning about sending negotiators 'naked' to Brussels over Brexit. Well, this has given me a wonderful idea.  There is a Russian sect called the Doukhobours that emigrated to Canada.  Normally peaceful, they protect their traditions fiercely.  Sometimes they...

Good news for some

Reading about the fantastic results of the TAILORx trials, announced at the ASCO Conference in Chicago. Over 30,000 of the world's top oncologists gather here annually, and this year was buzzing with good news - for some, as the announcement came that chemotherapy...

Oh! to be in England

You can't argue with the English countryside in May.  Whatever the headlines, a trip out into the country puts everything into perspective.  I had been asked to be a 'model' - in inverted commas because I am far from a Cat Walk Queen - but basically Jennifer Young of...

When friends get operations cancelled

One reads about operations being cancelled at the last minute, but when it happened to a friend this growing problem really hit home to me.  I was about to send her a card as she was due to have a hip replacement, and I get an email to say her op had been cancelled at...

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