‘’Despite the natural belittling of one’s self, the doubts, the insecurities, we have to wake up to the realisation that we all write our own autobiography, we are the authors of our life story. Realising that, write a good story with your life and make sure to write yourself as the protagonist. Be the hero of your journey’’ Yossi Ghinsberg
3rd March 2025
We all have a story. Some of us are just starting at the beginning yet to unfold the chapters of what will hopefully be one of the best stories to ever have been told. It could be a story of success, triumph or romance if you’re one of the lucky ones. It could be comedy filled with joyful moments and wild adventures along the way. Yet for most people it’s likely to include some form of tragedy, hardship and loss. I’ve said this many times before and I genuinely believe it that if you throw all of your worries and problems up in the air you would be thankful if you caught your own. What ever you are going through in this very moment there is always someone worse off than you. That’s not to say your worries aren’t important and to dismiss any emotions you are going through by any means. It’s a sort of optimistic way of what I imagine a group of men sat in the pub having a chat and setting the worlds to rights in between the banter of football and whatever sport happens to be on at the time looking at their one last pint of bitter before they need to go home to face the music (several hours later than they should have done might I add). Glass half full and saying ‘yeah but at least we’re not Dave the poor bastard’ pointing at the dishevelled bloke sat in the corner on his own. His wife has just run off with a salesman called ‘Tray’ twenty years his junior and to top it all off his trusty border collie he used to have by his side has just died. He would give anything to just have had his wife throw his dinner to the dog for being late home after a few pints.
A Story worth telling When I write my blogs, I write them from my heart and my head. I’m giving the reader (I hope) a snippet into the strange world that goes on in my head. My words that appear as I type can be different at any moment in time they’re determined by my feelings and thoughts in that moment. I always try to be honest with how I’m feeling and what events I unfold. Sharing them openly to be totally honest makes me massively vulnerable. When I post a blog thoughts go through my mind of the readers (if any) what are they thinking what judgement are they making? Will they like it? Will I offend anyone? The thought of someone not liking my writing is very daunting. It’s like the first time you tell someone you love them and you genuinely don’t know what they might say back.
However, after listening to some Ted Talks at the weekend. I took away quite a few elements for future posts. But a common theme that stood out for me is that in order to succeed and achieve things we have to be accepting of failure. We have to put ourselves in vulnerable positions and take on risks in order to accomplish things. Now I’m not self-indulgent enough to think that my blogs will be for everyone. I for one don’t like every single book I’ve ever picked up. Sometimes I’ll get a few chapters in and I’ll get to that decision point where it’s either waste the time I’ve already invested to see how the story unfolds or cut my losses and ditch the book.
For those of you that have read my blogs some you might enjoy some you might have thought were a bit shit to be honest. However, I still like to think that I make some sort of connection with you that it entices you to keep on reading. I hope that the words I write make you feel some sort of emotion whether that be happy, sad, mad or you might pick up one useful snippet of information (although if you’re reading my blogs for words of wisdom, I genuinely urge you to read something more educated like the Dalai Lama or The Beano). What I took from this weekend however was that I have the power to hopefully help people from my misfortunes. By sharing my thoughts, emotions and experiences. What I deemed to be a hardship is in fact a blessing in some obscene sort of way. Not many people will have experienced (I hope) what I have having Stage 4 cancer twice so not only it it blessing to share but also by sharing it might lead to early diagnosis in some individuals or provide glimmers of hope and support along their own journeys.
Write your own autobiography We all have the opportunity to write our own stories. We may not always have the opportunity to chose every chapter and what happens to the characters that surround us. I for certain would not have chosen to have Stage 4 cancer to go through all that I did only to find a couple of years later having to write another story of having Stage 4 cancer but Brain Metastasis. It’s like watching a really good film that has a happy ending and then discovering they’ve made a sequel which is totally not what you were expecting, to top it all off it comes without sound (and speech in my case) a bit mind boggling and is very slow moving!
We may not be able to write the content or keep the characters within our story. Some will no longer want to be a part of your story and that’s ok. They will go onto make their own stories but they have served their purpose in your story to a point. We can however challenge and choose our ending. A bit like those books that you used to be able to make a choice on what happened by turning to certain pages.
As a middle age woman I honestly don’t know where my life story is going. I have never been organised I just like to live in the moment. Planning too far ahead for me creates unnecessary stress I don’t need. Imaginary deadlines I don’t want. I’m not sure if this has been a recent thing since my cancer diagnosis as thinking too far ahead when the prognosis you have isn’t good. Nor was it about being in denial about what could happen. It was more enjoying the present moment and focusing on what I could achieve.
I don’t think about the ending in my story as that’s not going to be for a long time yet. All I know that it’s one with HOPE and I like to think RESILENCE maybe some triumphs and tragedies but hopefully one that people around me will keep helping me turn the pages one exciting chapter after another. One that doesn’t necessarily have an ending but one that is told to the next family generations to come…..a Never-ending story
The start of my journey. Despite the face I was totally scared of the unknowns
4th February 2025
Finding your WHY?
16th August 2017 and early September 2021 are two dates which will be forever embedded on my mind. It’s not the birth of my children or any momentous achievement in my somewhat pretty average life. Unfortunately the first date is when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma for the first time. The second (albeit not a specific date due to a number of reasons leading up to diagnosis) was the second time I was told that my Melanoma had returned in the form of Brain Tumours.
Now I don’t know if you the stages of cancer but on a scale of 1-4, 4 is pretty bad. In fact the only stage 5 cancer is Wilms tumours which I think is very rare. On both occasions I have never had to have chemotherapy which is often the first thing that people associate with cancer. After a biopsy operation determined I had cancer and scans revealed it had also metastasized to various other areas of my body. I was fortunate enough to receive combination Immunotherapy treatment literally weeks later. This unfortunately had to be stopped after just two doses due to severe side effects. However, the treatment continued to work it’s magic months later. Second time round in 2021 with my brain tumour diagnosis it involved a craniotomy and then SRS targeted radiotherapy. Neither involved the usual scripted hair loss. That came months later when my body had gone into shock from all the trauma a bit like when you are stressed this can also happen.
Somehow remarkably seven years later I’m still here living a pretty good quality of life. I like to think it’s down to sheer resilience and determination but I think those that know be best would probably say it’s because of sheer stubbornness to prove a point! Has it all been a bed of roses? Have I been a model patient through all of this. Certainly not. But I’m doing the best I can and the choices I’ve made I do it with conviction.
I can honestly say that since 16th August 2017 not a day goes by the the C word hasn’t popped up either in my mind or in a conversation (not the dirty one if that’s what you were thinking). But I don’t like to refer to it as the ‘BIG C’ to me it gives cancer the gravitas that I don’t think it deserves. It makes it sound like something we cannot control and should be feared. When reality like the ‘cock of the school’ it’s something that has been given a reputation that is so misunderstood in some instances. That if we actually tried to find out more about it, the causes, symptoms and the different types then we have a better chance of understanding and predicting it’s unpredictability.
If you are reading this you are probably one of the 1 in 2 that are now affected by cancer. If not it is highly likely that you know a friend or a family member that have had or are living with cancer. If so I send my sincerest thoughts to you and please find comfort in the fact that you are not alone. I too have lost family members and friends to cancer whom had been robbed of their youth. And having been on both sides of the coin I can honestly say in someway it’s harder watching the people you love suffer than yourself actually suffering. When it’s yourself even if the prognosis is poor. You have some control. Some control in your treatment options and control of how you chose your emotions. You can either be angry about the situation and let it take control of you or spend your time surrounded with the people you love that are there by your side. Making happy memories and leaving your legacy with them.
Even if unlike myself you have chosen not to be open about you or your partners illness there is confidential support out there. Sadly it took me to the second diagnosis to realise all the support and services out there. Had I know back in 2017 what I know now I might have done things slightly different and probably got financial and emotional support in the process, but it wouldn’t be life if we didn’t learn from our mistakes! That’s why I like to tell people in the hope it will help them make their own informed choices.
I can’t say if you are starting your ‘cancer journey’ that it will be easy. I certainly do not shit unicorns and rainbows on a daily basis. However, even at Stage 4 with hidden scars and disabilities you can live a pretty good life. Nope I mean an amazing life. No one has the magic cure for cancer like no one has the key to immortality unfortunately. It’s only by being open and honest about symptoms that we can help towards cures maybe not in our lifetimes but for future generations.
I am a big believer that health and wellbeing also play a massive part in sometimes defying the odds. Health is certainly wealth and if you are lucky enough to be of general good health then please embrace it. It’s ironic that we spend most of our time trying to be successful and making money. Then when your faced with illness you would immediately sacrifice all of that just to be healthy. Trust me I have experienced that first hand.
Reducing stress is definitely a key to that. I exercise as much as I can and I generally eat healthy. Sometimes I push myself too much and I pay the consequences for it days later. I’m still working on that balance however over the past couple of years I’ve achieved things which were totally not on the horizon, which had I not put myself out of my comfort zone I don’t think I would have achieved. I’ve gone from being bed bound for hours a day, to exercising most days doing the things I love walking, lifting weights going to classes. I could not have done this without the support of my family, my children and my close friends. It’s when your in your darkest moments that life seems bleak your true support circle shine the brightest. I certainly would not be here if it was not for all the wonderful treatment our NHS has provided. Just yesterday I had an MRI scan. I can honestly say on 99% of occasions I have been treated with care and compassion from the wonderful team of people, doctors, nurses, oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, health care professionals (the list goes on) that have helped keep me alive.
I think one of the key factors in me surviving this disease is that my WHY was always greater than any pain or trauma I was suffering. My WHY is to be around for my children as long as I possibly can to show them what you can achieve if you set your mind to it. My WHY is to live a happy and fulfilling fun life with my husband and friends and family I love. My WHY is to inspire others and to give them HOPE. Even through my years of journaling HOPE was and is always a key affirmation for me and writing down that I am cancer free 100’s of times over. If you can’t dream it then how can it come true. If we have HOPE then we have something worth holding on to.
Seven years later still going strong and enjoying life
Sending love and HOPE to you all on World Cancer Day x
If anyone would like information about any services or support please message me and I will provide as much information as I can. I’m certainly no expert but I’ve been round the block a couple of times!
‘You can’t rewind the past but you can reset yourself as many times as you need’. R. Cummings November 2024
“No act of kindness is too small. The gift of kindness may start as a small ripple that over time can turn into a tidal wave affecting the lives of many.” Kevin Heath CEO More4Kids
Week Ending Sunday 10th November 2024
A shit storm in a tea cup
To say this week has been a shambles is probably an understatement. Yet some how it’s led me to writing this blog something I’ve knowingly neglected for some time now. Which has played on my mind and made the simple task of just purely writing for joy a task in itself which I wouldn’t normally find.
I won’t go into too much detail about the turn of events as I’m conscious that it could be upsetting to some readers. I’ll simply state what started off as an instinctive ‘act of kindness’ on my part has in fact led to a wave of kindness, no sorry that’s totally wrong! I meant a tsunami of shit that followed on to today. It all started on Monday night with a visit to urgent care, with a dog bite, that ended up with an x-ray, a tetanus jab, a dressing and being sent on my merry way with some antibiotics for the next few days thinking this was quite an unfortunate state of events but hopefully it was the end of that.
However, no this was not to be the case on Tuesday night I went to a show with my friend (Simon Brodkin who is actually really funny if you want to see him) and I said to her I felt a bit cold and shaky as the evening went on it seemed to get worse. I got home and went straight to bed it was then during the night I started to feel pretty unwell; I was burning up; I felt really sick and had the rigors. This feeling was all to familiar to me as I had experienced a pretty similar version of this several years ago in hospital after my second dose of Immunotherapy. I managed to get through the night but in the morning, I was straight on to the Skin Care team and explained the turn of events. They recommended that I contact my GP so I did and got an appointment for later that morning. I told the doctor what had happened explained I had felt like this previously, showed her my tablets I had been given from urgent care and was given a new prescription for some different antibiotics. I collected these and started taking them that day. I had started to develop a rash but assumed this was just from the first set of antibiotics so carried on taking the new ones.
Wednesday went by and I felt pretty ok despite the rash still being there. Thursday came so I decided to go on a longish run being I had entered a 10K race for today (Remembrance Day) and wasn’t sure I could do the distance. That’s without considering my lack of running ability, the general short notice of deciding to enter, and the turn of events on Monday meaning my training for this run had been pretty much been non-existent. Thursday, I spent most of the day in bed bar this run as I was pretty shattered from the previous days. Friday came and again I had very little plans during the day except visiting parents and general jobs and I was going to see Lucy Beaumont at night so took it easy during the day. I did a little run just to keep my legs moving more than anything and felt fine. Lucy was funny a down to earth Northern lass from a working-class family so a comedian you can totally relate to especially the childhood stories. All in all, I was pretty unprepared but I was prepared to do the race even if it meant just finishing it and walking.
Things turn to shit in the night
Like the previous time it was in the night that things started to get worse. This time I started to burn up along with that came the swelling and horrendous itchy rash. Think of being bitten by midges or mosquitos but being so red and burnt that everything just hurts and you can’t sleep and that’s probably close to what it felt like. I was slowly counting down every waking hour until I thought it was acceptable to phone my mum and give her advance warning that she might want to come to out of hours with me. She did by some miracle actually answer her phone and said she would come round for 7.45am enough time to get there when out of hours opened. True to form…..she was late. Which I shamefully got really annoyed with and lashed out because by this point, I was in absolute agony and thought I could have just drove there myself. Later I did apologise for my little childish outburst.
See my mum is always late however at the moment she isn’t very mobile and bless her she hobbles about with a stick. In hospital people automatically assumed she was the patient and I was the carer. I had my bloods done to check there were no infections and had to wait for them to come back before seeing a doctor. When we saw the doctor, he was really nice. He suggested it may be the second dose of antibiotics I was allergic to. I was written a prescription for some steroids, a strong antihistamine and some cream to help soothe the itching (although writing this I’m profusely itching like mad as I type!)
Prescriptions were in a totally different part of the hospital which would have meant an extremely long hobble down several corridors and could have taken the best part of the day for mum. So, while I went, she decided to reside in a corridor and find a seat. For some reason she decided to pick a long chain of wheel chairs to sit in. But not just any when I returned, she was sat on the last one. When I returned about twenty minutes later, I found her looking like a porter had just dumped this little old lady and gone on their fag break. I came up behind her and asked her was she lost she chuckled and said ‘a few people have asked me that’ in a surprised tone!
When I got home, I was absolutely shattered but I couldn’t wait to open my bag of goodies in the quest to help make all this disappear. It was like opening a Christmas calendar on Christmas Eve and getting the chocolate with the luxury filling in or a paper picture of Father Christmas if you lived in my house in the 80’s!
It was a long day despite it being only 12 o’clock as I had been awake since 3am and after coming home to dog sick on the floor emotions got the better of me and I had a complete melt down. I was tired in pain, felt sick and the symptoms I was feeling were all too familiar. Maybe I was being dramatic but it just felt like all the trauma and memories from when I was really poorly in hospital just came over me. I made myself something to eat and a brew (as a good cuppa works wonders) and went to have a shower and lather myself in the cream I had been given and pray that the medication would kick in soon before going back to bed.
Did I get a better night’s sleep on Saturday NO not really. I ended up jumping in the shower a couple of times to ease the itching and then keep re-applying the cream. I also managed to find some face towels (flannels if your working class) and wet those which seemed to help with the itching a bit.
And here we are today (Sunday). I’m feeling slightly more human after yesterday was a complete write off. I’ve tried my best to stay awake all day so I can tire myself out for a good night’s rest. I’m definitely feeling better as I’ve managed to write this content however poor it may be.
I’ll set the scene in your mind as I’m typing away. I’m just out from a long lukewarm shower (as not to aggravate the rash) all lathered up head to toe in thick white cream but not in the slightest bit sexy (sorry I’m not quite there yet with the Jilly Cooper novels yet) ready to face tonight’s events hopefully with a little less itching and soreness. The flannels are just out of the freezer ready to thaw which I’m hoping will offer some comfort during the night. Herbal tea, water and paracetamol on the bedside cabinet. But as we all know the downside of steroids is they also keep you awake so I’m prepared the best I can be for a long night ahead. Wish me luck!
The morale of the story
When I first woke up, I was pretty miffed that I was not doing the Remembrance Day run and paying my respects. However ironically that’s what gave me the idea to write it because I did contemplate the thought ‘if I hadn’t have helped out in a way that I did on Monday night……’. But then I came to the conclusion instinct took over and I probably would have done the same again if it happened. I was just in the right place at the wrong time. Which subsequently led to list of tragedies and mild misfortunes for me. But what my little ripple of kindness did produce was waves of kindness but not in the way I expected. See it didn’t set off waves of kindness from me. The kindness came in abundance from other sources such as;
From the various urgent care staff, doctors and nurses treating me, to my mum sitting with me in A&E for hours. I know the hospital can look like the aftermath of a war zone at the best of times and could do with a ‘good wash at best’ but I have to say in all my appointments and drop ins this week I had been dealt with promptly and efficiently each time. And as horrible as it’s been at least now I know I’m potentially allergic to penicillin which is useful to know to keep on my medical records. Thank you to our NHS… I would certainly be lost without it. Kindness also came from messages from my sister and friends checking in and offering to help. I even got a brew off and an offer of help from Archie when he saw how upset I was which was nice.
It also made me think especially on Remembrance Day how lucky I am just to be here due to those that sacrificed their lives before us. In comparison my woes are minuscule to anything they would have had to witness and endure. And how lucky are we that today we have people who are willing to sacrifice their time, effort and dedication and sometimes lives to help keeping us safe. I think it takes a special kind of person to do that so if you are one of those then THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart x
Lessons Learned
If you’ve had a bad week just reset for this week use what’s happened as experience.
When you’re hurting it’s funny how what was painful no longer is when something else comes along (my finger being one). Maybe there is some truth to the phrase ‘I’ll give you something to cry about’ often said by parents to a moaning child.
We can all get tired an emotional sometimes it’s not always a sign of weakness it’s just a sign you’re human.
Kindness is a great thing to give and an even better thing to receive
‘Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them’ – Marcus Aurelius
Today it’s day 26 of the 100 squat a day challenge for November. I’ve done 100 already. All the excitement of doing the Christmas decorations has drained me. The Grinch’s heart has grown! Although this Grinch is slightly miffed off at all the empty Christmas boxes around the house that now go back into the loft. (damn I knew this wouldn’t last!!)
I’ve only got 4 more days of writing to go I’m finding it harder and harder now. The back is barely holding out but on a positive note I put a pair of pants on that I have never worn yesterday. I was going to sell them and buy the same pair in a bigger size so I’ve literally saved myself £30 quid. The squats must be working!
Reach for the Stars
I have always had a fascination with the stars. At one point I used to have a loft bedroom both at my parent’s house and at my first house. I would love looking out of an evening at all the different stars. I find them amazingly calming and fascinating. I’ve never been an astronomer or astrologist other than reading Mystic Meg in the paper to determine my relationships or whether I should quit my job. Whatever your religion or beliefs, I don’t think you can argue with the beauty of the stars and the planets and what insignificance we are in comparison to these that have existed for millions of years.
One of my bucket lists is to see the Northern lights and to see an aurora. I just love the beauty of the colours. In all the madness in this world to see something so pure and natural would be absolutely a dream come true. Maybe one day I will do that.
I think is a good thing to aim high and ‘reach for the stars. If we don’t dream, how can we have goals and aspirations. If we don’t have goals and aspirations, how can we achieve the impossible. That’s one good thing about being a child they are the biggest dreamers. The skies the limit to then as they’ve not experienced a world with limitations and rules. So next time you look into the sky take a moment to put yourself up there amongst all the stars. Imagine achieving the impossible that only you can dream of and who knows what may be looking down on you in that very moment in time.
Hopefully you’re all having a good evening and have had a good weekend. Thankyou for spurring me on and keeping me going or for just commenting and sharing the end is on the horizon.
‘In order to write about life first you must live it’ – Ernest Hemmingway
Today it’s day 23 of the 100 squat a day challenge for November. I’ve done 75 just another 25 to go!! I went to my PT this morning and despite having a sore back my PT still managed to do a workout for me which was great. I think like most things in life everything is scalable and adaptable we just need to look beyond the ‘normal’ rules of sport/work/learning and life in general. It’s like the walking netball I go to. I am really enjoying it, I used to play netball pre kids but now I think I would struggle so this is a great way of picking up something I used to do but slightly different. It also means I socialise with a group of people I probably wouldn’t have normally.
The other night after my Battle Cancer class my friend was giving me ideas of what to write for my blogs as I am finding it difficult especially on my tired days. The days when I have done some exercise, I often need a sleep during the day just to recharge those energy levels again for the kids, for meal times, for the evening, for writing. I think you get the idea. Anyway, she mentioned something about 10 years from now and looking in the mirror. So, I’ve written this poem.
10 years from now…..
Really look into the mirror who do you see
An older version of the woman you used to be
A few more wrinkles, the odd laughter line too
Ones that show all you have been through
Your eyes still the same with a slightly different glow
The pain they have seen only you know
You’re older, wiser and stronger they say
You fought your corner and paved your way
But ten years from now is a long time away
Make the most of being present in each and every day
Life’s ocean at times can feel rough
But the storms you ride are what make you tough
And once the storms have passed
There will be calm at last
And in 10 years from now
You will be ever so proud
Of the person that’s stood in the mirror
The one with an aura that glimmers
By Rachel Cummings 23/11/23 (how weird is todays date!)
Today it’s day 20 of the 100 squat a day challenge for November, I’m literally 2/3 of the way there. Squats completed, just gone for a walk as had a tiring day.
I thought I’d to something a bit different I had no idea if not I could fill the alphabet with all my related symptoms, treatment and medications. So, I gave it a try. Luckily, I have still a few more letters to go before I do (and I definitely don’t want to) there are probably other words that spring to mind later but I think you get the idea.
I thought by putting down all this information if someone is reading it and thinking I might go and get a tan on the sunbed or go and get burnt on holiday maybe they might think twice. That and I also want to highlight how lucky I am (we all are) that the NHS provides treatment and care for people like me to stay alive. Yes, it can make mistakes and definitely isn’t the most efficient at times. But there’s no questioning it is under enormous strain. So please let’s look after it and support it when we can as without it, we would all be worse off.
Quote of the day
People say you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Truth is, you knew what you had, you just never thought you’d lose it.
A-Z
A – Aspasia, Ambulance, Appointments B – Brain tumour. Biopsies, Blood, Bedbound C – CT scans, Craniotomy, Canular, Catheter, Counselling, Cancer, Colitis D – Dermatology, Dizziness, Dexamethasone, Doctors E – Ear Nose and Throat, expressive dysphasia, F – Fatigue, fluorodeoxyglucose, fits, Factor 50 G – Glands (saliva gland), Gallstones, Gadolinium H -Hospitals, Hospice, Hair loss I – Immunotherapy, Ipilimumab, Inflammation, Iodine J – K- Keppra L – Liver Function Test M – Metastatic Melanoma, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Mobility aids N –Neurosurgeons, Nivolumab, Nurses, NHS O – Oncologist, Occupational therapist P – Physio therapist, Pulmonary Embolism, Prescriptions, Positron emission tomography (PET) scans Q – R – Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Radiotherapy, Rash, Radiotracer Injection S – Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), Seizures, Skin Care team, Speech Therapist, Steroids, Surgery, Scans, Stroke symptoms T – Tumours, Tiredness, Tinnitus U – Ultrasound, Unbalanced V – Veins, Vitamin D W – Waiting rooms, Warfarin X – X-ray Y – Yervoy Z
And by the way this isn’t a tick list for you all to try and hit like one of those list of things you should have done before the age of 40. I highly recommend you DO NOT try any of these! See you tomorrow X x
You’ve done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy for your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.’ -Ralph Marston
I don’t think I could have found a more suitable quote for me. Sometimes when life seems to give us more than our fair share of sh1t. We need to use that energy and frustration and turn it into something positive.
Day 10 50 squats done if I do the other that will be 1,000 squats. Had to get the massage gun out today though to alleviate some muscle I didn’t know I had!!
Here’s a poem to my younger self;
A message to my self
If I could take a step back in time.
Talk to the young girl whom would live the woman’s decline
I’d tell her there are treasures more precious than gold
And she is so privileged she already holds
She is amongst Queens when it comes to her health
For amongst the sick and the poor she has the wealth
But for some reason she doesn’t see the beauty inside
See wants to fit in and no longer hide
She’s going away, doesn’t want to go red
So stupidly she goes on the sunbed instead
Blissfully unaware of the damage she’s caused
And the future body she’s already scarred
For her moment of vain
In years to come, she would feel the pain
Years will go by and in a twist of fate
A holiday in the white isles she finds her mate
Then along come the children a girl and a boy
To fill her heart with so much joy
A few years go by not without a few highs and lows
But from these times she learns and each time she grows
Then the day does come which most people fear
She holds it together but not without a tear
Deep down she knows this isn’t the end
For positivity and determination happen to be close friends
The treatment will feel like she can’t carry on
But despite the pain she does until it is gone
The mistakes that she’s made she puts on show
By writing about the tales of her woes
But unfortunately, this wasn’t the happy ending she sought
A few years from now there’s another battle to be fought
This time it’s far harder than the last
And she would need the same grit and determination she had in the past
But she’s done it before and will do it again
For future, past and present she won’t let cancer win
Lessons Learnt
Don’t ever over expose yourself in the sun (especially not naked you could get arrested in some countries). Factor 50 is your friend. It’s great for wrinkles too. Please don’t ever use a sunbed it’s 2023 these things should be banned.
Look after your health it really is the most valuable asset you have in your power.
If you’ve had your fair share of pain you’ve survived until today you can survive tomorrow.
