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Lets talk cancer!

25/1/2015

Every year in January, Macmillan Cancer Support run a Cancer Talk Week - the aim is to get people talking about cancer and to break the stigma and taboo that often exists when someone gets a diagnosis. Some people can find it very hard to talk about their cancer diagnosis, even to close family and this can lead to feelings of isolation and depression.
However, in this day and age where we have social media 24 hours a day, stories of cancer seems to be everywhere. So do we really need a week of events to make us make us talk about it even more?
Maybe its not when we talk but what we talk about that really matters. Talking about a cancer diagnosis and treatment is good for raising awareness but something that is often overlooked and not very often talked about it the emotional and psychological side effects of cancer. That is still something that is difficult for many cancer patients to talk about. We are often just expected to put on a brave face and get on with it.
It can be even harder after your treatment has ended, when family and friends expect you to return to normal and get on with your life. How can you explain to them how you feel? Would they even understand if you tried?
So you keep it all locked up side; eating away at you. Getting depressed, maybe resorting to unhealthy habits like alcohol to help numb the feelings of isolation and depression.
So yes, we do need to talk about cancer, not just the physical issues but the emotional issues aswell.
Cancer patients can only hope to fully recover if all aspects of their physical and emotional well being are looked after.
So this week, please join in with Macmillan's Cancer Talk Week but keep on talking, day after day; week after week.
As Macmillan's latest campaign says - No one should fight cancer alone.

xx Kaz xx

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5 years.......from when?

15/1/2015

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Ever since I was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 I heard stories of people celebrating when they got to their 5 year mark. The day when they were classed as being “cancer free”.
Thing is, I’ve never been able to find out when you actually start counting the 5 years! Is it from the date of diagnosis; the date of your surgery; or the date you finish your treatment?

I guess it sometimes depends on what your cancer was and what treatment you had. Some people have just surgery and that’s it, that’s enough to remove their cancer. Others go through many months if not years of treatment – when do they start the countdown to their 5 year celebrations?
To hear your Consultant say “ that’s it, you are now cancer free” or words to that effect must be wonderful, especially if you’ve had to endure some pretty rough treatment.

I was diagnosed on 23rd Dec 2009 with womb cancer. I had my hysterectomy on 25th Jan 2010 and finished my treatment (chemo and then radiotherapy) on 12th July. Which one of them is my starting point?

Whichever it is, one thing for sure is that I’m never going to hear my Consultant say “you are cancer free” because I’ve never had any follow up appointments since my treatment ended (apart from a brief 5 minute appointment with one of his junior’s 3 weeks after that meant the best part of a 6 hour round trip to get too!!!!)
Apparently, he was so sure that the cancer had gone that he deemed I did not need any follow up appointments. In the beginning, I was a little apprehensive that maybe the cancer would come back because I wasn’t getting any check-ups etc but then I slowly began to accept that if it was going to come back then it would, no matter if I was going for follow ups or not.

My lovely Macmillan nurse rang his office and was told that he didn’t think I needed any follow ups because he was certain the cancer had gone but if I wanted to see him anytime I could make an appointment!! As if that was ever going to happen – I’m the woman who refused to seek medical help and put up with severe heavy bleeding for almost 35 years!!!

I had a couple of appointments with my gynaecologist but even they stopped a year or so after my hysterectomy. My own GP was never involved in my cancer diagnosis or care and didn’t even know that I had been in hospital for my hysterectomy!!

If it hadn’t of been for my wonderful Macmillan nurse then I would have had no support at all. Sadly she moved area 6 months ago so I’ve lost her now.

So, back to the 5 year question. For me, I’ve decided that my 5 year mark will be on 12th July 2015 – the date I finished my treatment. I still won’t hear the words “you are cancer free” and I won’t be popping a champagne cork like many people do because even though I may technically be cancer free I am still living with the long term side effects of my diagnosis and sadly there is no time limit or cut-off date for them.

Don’t know how I’ll feel come the 12th July – probably a little teary and emotional but I guess I can blame that on the hormones!!!

xx Kaz xx

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My Story by JH

9/1/2015

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This is another of our ladies sharing her personal story of womb cancer.

I’m 63yrs old, and on 11th March this year , I woke up in the middle of the night, to find myself covered in blood, I actually thought I was dreaming. I went to the toilet and came back to bed to find a large blood clot on the bed. My instant thought was blimey, it must be some age thing. (I had gone through the menopause years ago) I thought it must be some sort of clear out!!
Next day it bugged me, and I thought maybe I’ll give the nurse a ring and ask ( felt a bit silly asking ) The next thing was, she got me an appointment with the GP straight away, and then my whirlwind started.
The Doctor went into hyper speed; between 12th March and 1st April I had every test going, and on 1st April ( I know, trust me , April Fools Day!! ) off I go to see the Consultant . He sat me down and out came the diagnosis, There was a Macmillan Nurse with him, then another nurse came in, which kind of gave me a clue. He said I had womb cancer, I’d never heard of it. I had a friend with me, So next thing I do is come out with "Its April Fools Day, right?" I went into a rather strange unreal haze. They were fab, but I wasn't really taking it in. Such a strange feeling .
Went through all the pre op stuff etc, trying to shorten the story a bit here! On 6th May, I had a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo oophrectomy. I was in for 48 hrs.
My Doctor and Nurses were a bit shocked at that bit, but I came home but after about 2 weeks, I wasn't feeling to good, I stood up and loads of water stuff just poured out. I thought I’d had an accident, but my wound had become infected from the surgery. Apparently, the drain had been taken out to early, and it had opened up in two places ( won't give you all the gory details) I went to see the Doctor, and the District nurses were sent to look after me.
On the Sunday, the District Nurse came,, I was really poorly. Next minute I was back in hospital, on IV drip, antibiotics, and in a private room, For the first 3 days I had no idea what was going on. I was there for 8 days. I found out later that I was a few hours away from going into a coma and organ shutdown.... Phew!
My District Nurse, really saved my life. The District nurses came in every day.

To sum up , I still cannot believe the Cancer bit. The good news is that they caught it early. What knocked me sideways was the infection, how crazy is that? So anyone reading this, please please, if you have any worries, do something about it.
I nearly didn't bother phoning up , thinking it’s just an age thing. However old or young you are, play it safe, if something doesn't feel right, then ask your Doctor, or Nurse.
I must also add, that all they Consultants, Docs, Nurses etc have been fab, I feel really lucky.

It’s been hard to talk about it all again, and it’s like I still cannot believe any of it happened, but it has helped me to write it down and I hope that it might help someone else.

If you are willing to share your story then please email wcsuk@hotmail.co.uk

xx Kaz xx

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Is getting cancer just down to the luck of the draw?

2/1/2015

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Why do some people get cancer and others don’t? Why does someone who eats a healthy diet and exercises regularly get diagnosed but someone who lives off junk food and is a couch potato doesn’t?
It seems that hardly a week goes by without us being told that our life style choices are the reason that we get cancer. We don’t get enough exercise; we drink too much fizzy pop; we smoke too much; eat too much sugar or red meat; sit down too long; wear the wrong colour lipstick – ok I know the last one is tongue in cheek but it seems to me to be a bit unfair to be blaming people constantly for getting cancer. It’s hard enough coping with the diagnosis and treatment without the added pressure of being made to feel like you bought it on yourself by being a bad person!

Raising awareness of the possible consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle is one thing, but blaming people who already have cancer – and who may have led a far from unhealthy lifestyle just seems so unfair.
However, a new report out is now saying that many cancers can be put down to “bad luck” –essentially random mutations of our DNA.

The thing is, is this any easier to accept? You got cancer because you were unlucky!!! Is this any easier to accept than being told you got cancer because you were obese or lazy?

You can read more about the research here

xx Kaz xx

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Lets talk cancer!

5 years.......from when?

My Story by JH

Is getting cancer just down to the luck of the draw?

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