Melanoma and Me
The fight of my life
About

Who Am I? update July 2022

Hello it’s now July 2022 and I thought I best do a brief update about me so you don’t have to trawl through all the previous posts. (However, I recommend you do as it hopefully gives you an insight into my journey and if there’s any details I’ve not quite got right then you can correct me 😉! I’m still Rachel I have not changed my name by deed poll and I’m now 42 !! (shit I’m old). I started this blog back in January 2018 when I had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma and spent some time in hospital in 2017. It wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences but through some miracle I’m still here typing away.

I’m still very much an average Joe, unfortunately I did not gain any super powers through receiving Immunotherapy although one of my friends has suggested that if I do decide to venture into the Super Hero business my name should be Supertit (not because I am one but because one of the current side effects I am suffering from are similar to the side effects of tinnitus, well that’s what she told me anyway. (Having wrote this down I’m wondering if this is actually the reason why).

I am still by another miracle married to Ste partner of 19 years and fortunate enough to have two beautiful children Daisy and Archie (whom are now teenagers and come with a whole new manual, this manual is generally for adults only as contains a lot of coarse words). We live Darwen and love it. I have family and friends close by and I’m generally pretty happy where we live. I still have the same group of people backing my corner and generally looking after and supporting me. That in itself is worth it’s weight in gold.

I am a Commercial Manager within the construction industry something I have done now for 24 years. Although I have been unable to work for the past 10 months due to my illness. My work have thankfully been so supportive which I am forever grateful for. This has and will hopefully help with my recovery.

I still have the same interests in hobbies although some of the physical ones (such as boxing and weights) I can unfortunately no longer do to the extent that I did but like most things I will adapt and work my way round to find new things that I can do. I still love crafts and upcycling and obviously writing these are things that give me a purpose on the really tough days. That or when people buy my crafts or comment on my blogs not one goes un-noticed. (thank-you)

So the main reason I felt I had to update my about me page is because unfortunately early September 2021 having spent the best part of 3 years cancer free it was confirmed that my Melanoma had returned this time in the form of brain tumours. This was a complete shock and the side effects and treatment I have gone through have been totally different to the first time round. It has been an extremely challenging time not just for me but for my family, and it’s them that I owe it to, to not give up.  

Although I am certainly not the same person I was this time last year (put it this way I reckon if I was a cat I’d probably have about 25 lives by now). But I’m still little Rach with the same determination and hope to beat this shitty disease, albeit with a few more pounds (weight certainly not money), definitely a few more scars both emotional and physical, a little weaker (hopefully not for long). I would like to say wiser but then I’d be lying.

So, I suppose in a nut shell that’s pretty much me in 2022. Am I perfect no, am I exciting no, but hopefully my words and experiences of an ‘average Joe’ who has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time (Metastatic Melanoma) are something which other ‘average Joe’s’ can relate to. My objectives still remain the same in that I want to help other people, I hope to spread awareness about cancer, hopefully in light hearted way which people can relate to. So whether you are reading my blog for the first time or 20th time THANK YOU. Please continue to do so, please share and hopefully you can help achieve some PURPOSE in all of this.

Love and HOPE always

Rachel

X x x

About

Who am I?

My name is Rachel and I’m 37. I’m pretty much an ‘average Joe’ (sorry if I have offended any Joe’s I told you you had to be be careful when writing things down). I am married to Ste partner of 14 years and fortunate enough to have two beautiful children D & A (one of each). I live in a smallish town in Lancashire called Darwen where generally people know your business. It’s not quite like Heartbeat however, where there’s only one doctor and policeman who also happen to be married to each other and are also brother and sister. Darwen doesn’t have the best reputation it is know for having many takeaways and hairdressers along the main road and very little in the way of promising hopes and dreams (it’s definitely on the up though I promise). However now more than ever this is a place that I hold very close to my heart. See I grew up in this town and have been lucky enough to have lots of family and friends here too. I have many fond memories from my childhood through to current day and I am also lucky enough to still have some friendships that still stand the test of time more than thirty years on.

I have one older bossy, but loving sibling S who is three years my senior, my gorgeous nephew L and a fantastic mum and dad who also live nearby. In addition to this I have multiple Aunties, Uncles, Cousins and 1/2 Cousins, friends old and new all whom make Darwen such a special place in my heart. Now Ste hasn’t always lived in Darwen nor did he probably ever put it down as his life long ambition to live here yet 14 years after a encounter of ‘fate’ on a holiday to Ibiza here he is and hopefully it is a place where he too now calls home with friends and family. Our other extended family reside in the more Southern parts of the UK where a jellied eels and a knees up are a regular event at the weekend. I am extremely lucky to have such a large family with three sisters, two brothers in law, mother and father in law and such loving and caring niece and nephews. All these people have been so supportive through many times in the past including more recently after my diagnosis.

I am a Quantity Surveyor/Cost Manager something I have done now for over 18 years. Was it what I set out to do in life? Definitely not but it has got me where I am today and for that experience I am grateful for. I also have some great work friends and colleagues who have made this last few months a lot easier to deal with. In addition to work I also have a number of hobbies and interest some which I intend on sharing on this blog. I love exercise in particular lifting weights, going to the gym, boxing, I’m trying to love running, yoga and walking with my dog. In addition to exercise I have recently been getting into cooking and nutrition something which my husband says is getting pretty good. I love craft, making and designing things, being creative, photography, classic cars all of which I intend to spend more time on.

So I suppose in a nut shell that’s pretty much me. Am I perfect no, am I exciting no, but hopefully my words and experiences of an ‘average Joe’ who has been diagnosed with cancer are something which other ‘average Joe’s’ can relate to or find helpful in some way or form.