World Cancer Day stories

“I was lucky that my medical team eventually got to know me and understand that it’s not one size fits all when it comes to cancer treatment.

My experience has been such a whirlwind of emotions, decisions, adapting and learning. I’ve had so many tests, PET scans, MRIs, echo scans, blood tests and having my eggs frozen. I was told it could be stage four and there may be nothing they can do, then tests confirmed it wasn’t.

I was put under immense pressure to have treatment I was unsure of, had a port put in, had treatment; hospitalised after treatment with sepsis. I was told I needed nine rounds of chemo, but my lump disappeared after one. I was still pushed to do more treatment than was needed, then was told it wasn’t necessary.

I had surgery, and lymph nodes removed, only to be told it might not have been necessary and pushed to do more treatment. It’s so hard to advocate for yourself when you are unclear what things mean, and if you have specific needs.”

Learn more about breast cancer.

“I try to encourage others to accept themselves as bigger than just a cancer patient.

From the very start, as it’s stage 4 and had spread to other parts of the lung, an operation was out of the question. The only available option was chemotherapy.

I look at the disease as only part of my life. My life as a cancer patient is just one role – I have many other roles…a father, a husband, a friend, a runner. Running is very important to me. Having cancer has meant that I have lost my confidence and the spirit to push myself to see how far I can go.

Cancer haunts you as you get older – there’s a risk any of us can get it later in life. I just try to be as normal as can be.

I try not to let the ‘patient’ part overshadow every other part of life. I never allow the disease to make me behave in a certain way or overtake my life.”

Learn more about lung cancer.