On January 8th 2016 I, after having found a lump a few weeks before Christmas 2015, and spending all day at East Surrey Hospital having a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy and was told I had Breast Cancer. It's not a day I can and will forget. Shock?yes. Disbelief?yes. Ignorance about cancer?yes. 

I really had no clue what was ahead and followed the lead of a lumpectomy and then some radiotherapy and I thought 'great, this cancer situation will be sorted and i'll carry on'. Following results from my lumpectomy it became clear this was never going to be the case-my tumour was larger than previously suspected, I had lymph-nodes involved and would need further surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 

9 months later as the medical and drug treatments came to an end I thought so what now? I went ahead with a trip to NZ and OZ in January 2017 that had been planned for January 2016 which was fantastic. During this time a friend i'd met locally went on the Shine escape and told me about it and others who she'd had met locally became friends who 'just get it'. 

I've included the link to the 2017 Escape video that friends who live locally to me in Crawley-Victoria, Hayley and Adam went on. Adam died in November 2018 and since my diagnosis 3 of my good friends who I've shared up's and downs and lots of Fuck Cancer moans with (often over tea and cakes!) have died which is incredibly tough. Adam was a huge advocate of the peer support he had from Shine and is another reason to donate to my Shine Escape 2020 page. 

https://youtu.be/_wRUMQ_vqW0

'But your fine now?' is a common and very misplaced belief about  finishing the medical side of cancer treatment. Cancer is like glitter, it gets everywhere and it's affects are beyond hair loss. Non cancer friends don't understand the ups and downs and lasting impact of a cancer diagnosis which is why friends who get what you are anxious about are so important. 

I am a volunteer network leader with Sussex Shine and we organise meet ups such as in cafe's for brunch, comedy nights, dinner, picnics and other days out. It's important to have that opportunity to share updates on your treatment, fears, questions and other commonalities with your peer group-something Shine does very well and I've witnessed as a volunteer and someone attending. 

I also did some online life coaching with Shine and the lovely Emily in between leaving Qantas as cabin crew and not knowing exactly what to do next. I found this constructive as sometimes it's good to sit and make a list of what you actually want from leaving one job to do another with all the health concerns and fears surrounding that and other topics surrounding that. No other charity offers such a service. I now work as a Fundraising and Events officer at a charity supporting those with sight and hearing loss and really enjoy it.  

So I am going on the Shine Escape 2020! This is funded by Shine, the only UK cancer charity providing support to young adults in their 20's, 30's and 40's with any cancer diagnosis. Shine rely entirely on fundraising to sustain and continue this support. Please donate to help fund my place on the Shine Escape 2020. 

Shine Cancer Support is the only charity in the UK focused on supporting adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s who have experienced a cancer diagnosis. Shine is run by people who are living with cancer and run unique events across the UK. Donations from the general public form the bulk of Shine's income - and with a tiny staff, you can rest assured that all of your money goes toward making a difference to the lives of younger adults with cancer.